As part of ongoing efforts to improve the genetics of cattle in Fiji, the Ministry of Agriculture has the first Wagyu Beef breed offspring born locally through Embryo Transfer technology.

The Ministry of Agriculture carefully selected Embryo Transfer (ET) technology to maintain quality cattle genetics while controlling and managing bovine diseases affecting Fiji’s cattle industry.

While officiating the introduction of the Wagyu Beef Cattle breed at Koronivia Livestock Research yesterday, the Minister for Agriculture and Waterways Hon. Vatimi Rayalu said this is a milestone for Fiji as it opened up a world of opportunities for our livestock industry that is expected to address local market gaps.

Minister Rayalu said importation of live cattle poses a very high risk of disease transmission, consequently allowing embryo importation to be the best quality technique used by the Ministry to move the cattle industry forward, especially when adopting high performing cattle breeds.

He said the first stage of the embryo development work actually happened in Australia whereby harvesting, fertilization and cryopreservation of Embryos were done in the lab before it was brought over to Fiji in line with full biosecurity requirements. 

Minister Rayalu said apart from Senepol and Brown Swiss, the Ministry of Agriculture is now on its way to rearing and developing two additional prime quality breeds in Fiji through embryo transfer technology.

“Wagyu calving has started in Koronivia and the Droughtmaster calving is to follow up at Sigatoka Research Station by mid of January 2023,” said Hon. Rayalu. 

He said we have four Wagyu calves on the ground and more is expected by the end of this month. 

Hon. Rayalu added that the government through the Ministry of Agriculture has invested in the beef sector through stock yard support, ET, provision of fencing kit support, breeder bulls, supplementation nutrition, staff and farmer training, infrastructure improvement, and improvement of the breeding centre. 

Breed performance in Fiji will be further monitored and evaluated at the government research stations before the genetics are passed to farmers for rearing and multiplication.

Australian Reproductive Technology (ART) Director, Mr. Simon Walton has been working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture staff to develop the much-needed prime quality beef breeds in Fiji and apart from introducing Senepol and Brown Swiss breeds, Wagyu and Droughtmaster breeds will add more quality beef genetics in our nucleus/elite stock. 

Mr. Walton said these premium breeds have been carefully selected for their good performance, particularly in adapting to heat, stress, growth and development, reproduction, and meat quality.  

Mr. Walton added that the quality of Wagyu beef meets the standards required by hotel guests and it ensures the taste, texture and cuts of beef are of superior quality and had excellent marbling characteristics which add quality flavour to taste in either steak, barbeque or cooked with anything. 

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