Warrendale Wagyu Ireland has opened applications for dairy farmers to join its programme for the 2025 breeding season.

Having successfully collaborated with Irish farmers over the past two years, Warrendale Wagyu Ireland is now aiming to expand further, with a goal of increasing calf numbers in 2026.

In 2024, Warrendale Wagyu, which partners with over 750 farmers in the UK, announced its expansion into Ireland in collaboration with Munster Bovine and Kepak.

There are approximately 1,000 calves expected to be born through the initiative in 2025 and the programme aims to more than double this figure by 2026. Progressive Genetics has also recently joined the initiative, strengthening its reach and support for farmers.

The Wagyu programme is open to dairy farmers who are part of the National Genotyping Initiative and are Bord Bia Quality Assured.

Participating farmers will receive a payment of €200 for both bull and heifer calves, along with a €50 slaughter premium.

The ideal cows for the initiative should have a maintenance score of 14 or lower and must not contain Jersey genetics.

Calves are collected from farms at 28-days-old, weighing a minimum of 45kg. To ensure optimal health, calves must receive four litres of colostrum at birth and be vaccinated with an intranasal pneumonia vaccine before collection.

Warrendale Wagyu Ireland programme manager, Cathal Doyle from Laois highlighted the benefits of the scheme: “The feedback from dairy farmers has been very positive. The Wagyu-cross calves are easy calved and extremely hardy from birth.”

Warrendale Wagyu has been operating in the UK for seven years, currently working with 750 farmers and managing 59,000 Wagyu cattle.

The company processes 350 cattle/week, with 800 calves born weekly. It supplies major UK retailers such as ALDI and Waitrose, along with export markets in Hong Kong and the Middle East. With a growing demand for Wagyu beef, the expansion into Ireland presents significant opportunities for farmers.

For more information on joining the programme call Cathal at 085 207 7942 or visit https://wagyufarmers.ie/.

Warrendale Wagyu Ireland offers a fully integrated supply chain with guaranteed pricing structures for farmers who wish to rear calves through to slaughter. Straws for the programme are available through Munster Bovine and Progressive Genetics.