Record price for Wagyu genetics

At the third annual Wagyu Fullblood 100% International Sale held last week in the Hunter Valley, NSW, a semen package of 10 straws sold for an Australian record top price of $30,500.

It was the first-ever offering of fullblood Wagyu genetics from Mayura station, based at Millicent, South Australia.

Mayura principal Scott de Bruin said the once-only offered semen package was from one of Australia’s most proven commercial Wagyu sires, Mayura Itoshigenami Jr, which goes back to the de Bruin family’s first importation of Japanese Blacks in 1997.

“Utilising performance recorded breeding, we have all the economic data from this sire and are confident of its proven performance,” Mr de Bruin said.

“Mayura’s link to fullblood Wagyu began when my father was doing business in Japan and was so impressed with the eating quality of the beef that he decided to import Wagyu genetics, which has gone from strength to strength ever since.

“Mayura Wagyu’s 2600 breeding cows make up the most elite herd outside of Japan and no animal has ever been offered for sale as stud breeding stock.

“We now run a total of 7000 fullblood Wagyu cattle, the largest privately run operation in Australia, and our feedlot operation is fully undercover.

“Mayura Beef brand markets 70 per cent of its product into south east Asia with the balance to the Australian restaurant trade.”

Results from the sale also included 17 bulls sold to a top price of $12,000 twice and average price of $6971.

Twelve females were also sold to a top price of $11,000 x three.