Wagyu Welfare

At Kuro Kin Wagyu, we have adopted methods of animal husbandry that address many Animal Welfare issues and have the least impact on our livestock. This is a process that is always being considered and improved upon.

Yard weaning at Kuro Kin

Kuro Kin weaner cattle with lucerne hay.

Trucks we use have non-bruise crates.

Wagyu Welfare at Kuro Kin

Animal welfare has been at the forefront of a lot of media coverage lately. In 1991 I was encouraged to be aware of this by the then dean of UNE, Orange Campus, John Chudleigh. At Kuro Kin Wagyu, we have adopted methods of animal husbandry that will have the least impact on our livestock. The reasons for this are that livestock are more settled when they aren’t stressed, they also recover well and perform.

Here is an outline of our animal husbandry practices:

• To have the lowest impact on young cattle, yard weaning has been used at Kuro Kin Wagyu for over 17 years. Weaner cattle are provided with Lucerne hay.
• We spend approximately one hour each day for 5 - 7 days quietening the weaners down. This involves walking amongst them while they are feeding, as well as quietly working them between yards. This process helps minimise the impact of respiratory diseases when they arrive at a feedlot as well as maintaining their growth rates.
• We have not used invasive removal of testis since 1999.
• Dehorning is carried out at a young age and is treated with antiseptic. (We look forward to using the anaesthetic spray due to be released by the QLD DPI).
• Hormone Growth promotants have not been used on Kuro Kin Wagyu Cattle ever. The cattle have to maintain a conservative amount of weight gain so that the marbling can develop to its full potential.
• We have not used cattle prods for the last 17 years. Wagyu cattle should not need persuading up a cattle race or onto a truck. Properly designed yards mean that cattle, because of their curious nature, will walk up a race of their own accord.
• In Australia, due to the remoteness of some properties, trucks have to travel long distances. Trucking companies are exceptional in their approach to animal welfare. The trucks we use have non-bruise crates. We strive to have good relationships with truck drivers and inform them of our animal welfare policies.

• Our cattle handling techniques are always improving. A low stress type of stock handling is being implemented which uses the principle of manipulating the distance to and from the animal to make it move in the direction required.

Environment

The Upper Hunter Valley has been utilised by indigenous Australians for over 40,000 years. European settlers (George Hall) first moved into our specific part of the Upper hunter valley in 1824. The land has since been managed in a sustainable production system for nearly 200 years.

Over the years drought and flood have determined whether the land is the right occupation for many entrepreneurs, however for the Bishop family we have been able to adapt to the changing climate (and markets). Kuro Kin Wagyu expands over 8500 acres and is divided by 60+ paddocks allowing  for rotational grazing. Rotational grazing means that the paddocks are grazed for a short period of time and then  livestock moved so the paddock can be rested. This system allows the pasture to recover from grazing and maintains enough ground cover to prevent erosion.

Water is critical to a farming enterprise, we utilise water from underground bores. This water is pumped via pipe to water troughs. This system is efficient as there is no evaporation or erosion. At Kuro Kin we have about 50km of water pipes - this requires continuous maintenance! Dams are also available to cattle however they prefer the cleaner and cooler water out of a tank.

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Performance Beyond Expectation
Kuro Kin Wagyu, 4631 Bunnan Rd
New South Wales 2337 Australia