NEWSLETTER FROM NAMIBIAN WAGYU SOCIETY
Dear members,
We intend to issues newsletter more frequently. If there is anything newsworthy regarding Wagyu in Namibia, you like to share, please contact us.
NEW MEMBERS
Our current membership stands at 23, with just over 3500 registered animals.
We welcome 4 new members.
Mr. Andre Delport | JANMIE Wagyu |
Mr. Ferdinand Nghiyola | INO Wagyu |
Ms. Martinique Scott | SHEPHERD TREE Wagyu |
Mr. Wolfgang Sternagel | DOMINUS WAGYU (new owner) |
We will, from now on, interview new as well as old members by asking standard questions, and introduce them to fellow members of society. Today we are starting off with Mr. Andre Delport of Janmie Wagyu.
Q. Andre, where do you farm?
A. Between Witvlei and Omitara, north of the tar road.
Q. Why Wagyu?
A. With Namibia’s varying rainfall as well as climate change, farming with Wagyu allows you to farm with less cattle on the same size of land compared to a standard commercial cattle farming enterprise, with the hope to generate a better revenue by producing a premium product for export. With smaller cattle numbers, better grazing management can be accomplished, and thus Wagyu farming should not be so heavy on your grazing. This reduces the risk considerably in dryer seasons.
I am excited about the transformation process and continuously seek advice about how Wagyu farming performs, compared to “normal” commercial cattle farming. On 27 May 2023 we started an Artificial Insemination (AI) program. I am proud and excited to report that my first 2 calves were born yesterday – from the same (single) mother, and today another 2 were born from another cow! Mr. Johan Orffer provided me with sweeper bulls for the AI program.
In November 2023 I bought a group of F1 replacement heifers from Mr. Joachim Cranz, with the hope of starting an AI program on them in about a month’s time.
Bonsmara dam with her F1 Twin Calves
F1 Twin Calves
Q. What do you use as base cows?
A. Mainly Bonsmara cows, with a few Braunvieh’s.
Q. What are your future plans?
A. My plan is to gradually change my commercial farming operation to a full Wagyu operation over the next two years. Bonsmara dam with her F1 Twin Calves
F1 Twin Calves
Q. Any other comments?
A. I would like to express my gratitude to Mr. Johan Orffer and his team, especially Mr. Hanno Swart, for their phantastic initiative and professionalism with which they promote Wagyu in Namibia.
MARKET:
Rehoboth Meat Processors expects to obtain export status by the second half of 2024.
Desert Wagyu currently sells an average of three to four Wagyu carcasses per week locally. Wagyu beef can be obtained directly from Rheo Meat Processors and is also sold at various restaurants in Windhoek and at the coast and retail outlets (Maerua Super Spar, Swakopmund Super Spar, Walvis Super Spar and Theo’s Super Spar -Otjiwarongo)
Karahari Wagyu has slaughtered 30 Wagyu cattle in February for export to Europe.
DROUGHT:
The looming drought will undoubtedly have an effect on all of us. Some breeders are having to sell their stock due to a lack of grazing. We want to encourage those breeders who do have spare grazing capacity, to purchase Wagyu animals from fellow breeders who have to sell, in order to prevent those animals going to auctions and being sold as commercial stock. Breeders who have to sell are encouraged to advertise their cattle on the Namibian Wagyu Society WhatsApp group. Similarly, breeders who want to buy, should also make use of this platform. If there are breeders who operate feed lots and are prepared to take in cattle on a contract feeding basis, they should announce this on the group, please. Let’s help each other, where possible!
With kind regards
Joachim Cranz
NWS PRESIDENT
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