Founding Members
Belltree Australia Pty Ltd
AWA Identifier: YAM
Objectives
Belltree Australia Pty Ltd was established to supply high quality Wagyu seed stock and feeder cattle to the Australian market at competitive prices. The operation aims to harmonise traditional Japanese breeding methods in the Australian environment, and create outstanding ‘next generation’ Wagyu genetics for global markets.
Beginnings
In 2006, Belltree Australia commenced operations on 360 acre ‘Yamboon Park’, situated the beautiful Megalong Valley, Blue Mountains, NSW, where a Wagyu stud had been under development by a Japanese professional, since 2000. The initial Belltree focus was on the application of Westholme genetics, working with Wagyu females of Kikuyasu 400 and Fukutsuru 068 lineage, and full blood Wagyu sons of ETJ003 and ETJ005. Forty Angus females of proven high marbling bloodlines provided quality F1 progeny for testing at major feedlots.
Operations
In 2006, commercial operations consisted of F1 feeder cattle consigned to AACo and private treaty bull sales.
Also in 2006, Belltree partnered with Japanese company Echigo Farm, agisting the Echigo Wagyu herd at Yamboon Park and formulating a collaborative program for breeding development. . Echigo Farm owns nine full blood bulls, two cows and nine young females.
The ongoing Belltree breeding program targets premium quality full blood feeder and seed stock markets, using unique experience in analysis of Australian Wagyu progeny data in combination with traditional Wagyu breeding techniques. In 2007, this program was rolled out with embryo transfer programs using Echigo embryos produced at Westholme, Tarana and fresh embryos produced at Yamboon Park.
Principals
Belltree Australia is a family operation, managed by principals Takao (Tak) Suzuki and Yuko Suzuki.
Takao and Yuko immigrated to Australia in 1991, prior to which Tak spent years employed in Wagyu feedlots in Japan. In Australia, he was initially employed as a pen rider at Rangers Valley, Glen Innes, completing the Certificate in Agriculture (Feedlot Management) at the University of New England, NSW in 2001.
As Rangers Valley moved into Wagyu production, Tak moved into data analysis at the feedlot, managing Wagyu feeder performance databases to help optimize feedlot production and provide feedback to producers. He has also worked with many prominent Japanese Wagyu producers, including Mr. Takeda, to help inform Australian production.
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Ginjo Pastoral Co
AWA Prefix: GIN
Picture: Tea Gardens hinterland, NSW
Ginjo Wagyu was launched in 1998 to produce commercial fullbloods, and has been supplying certified fullblood feeders since 2001. Breeding objectives include the development of fullblood bloodlines capable of producing high weaning weight progeny without supplementation under Australian grazing conditions, and finishing at superior weights with reduced days on feed. Seedstock are marketed under the MarbleMax registered trademark.
The Ginjo herd was first recorded within AWA Group Breedplan in 2010 and is also EU market accredited.
Ginjo MarbleMax Hiranami B901 – A superior growth and marbling sire
Beginnings
Eight fullblood embryos were purchased in 1998 and six heifers formed the core group from 1999. Five adult females were added in 2000. These included two descendants of the exceptional Myazaki prefecture cow, Yuriko, whose lineage now continues through numerous Ginjo females. Early Itozakura strength in many pedigrees ensured good foundation frame scores, developed over a decade of breeding with high growth AI sires and embryo transfer programs.
Picture: Approaching Ginjo yards, Gloucester, NSW
Operations
Early feeder production was consigned to ICM Peechelba Feedlot, Victoria, to be finished within David Blackmore’s programs. Feeders have been supplied to AACo Aronui at Dalby, Qld since 2005.
Selection practices have emphasised gene marker testing, but today are consistently focused on breeding to carcass results and Japanese strain predictors.
The Ginjo fullblood female herd is approximately 200, situated near Gloucester and Tea Gardens, NSW.
Principals
Ginjo is a family operation, staffed by principals Mike and Maggie Buchanan from the home property, ‘Wingara’, near Tea Gardens on the NSW Mid North Coast.
Mike Buchanan completed the Certificate in Agriculture (Feedlot Management) at the University of New England (UNE), NSW in 2003 and will complete a Masters in Agriculture in 2011. A former director of organic certifier, NASAA, he has a keen interest in rural niche opportunities.
He originally qualified in journalism, adding marketing qualifications, and spent some 30 years as a marketing communications and public relations executive in multi-national corporations. He founded Communication Solutions Australia P/L, a successful national media management and marketing consultancy in Sydney in 1985.
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