News 2017

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December

We took the opportunity recently to visit our fantastic South African agency at Embryo Plus. Our first visit to South Africa, so there was a lot to take in and think about this amazing country. I thought it might be similar to Australia – I thought, heat and dry red country, has to be like us. And it is similar in many ways, but in many other ways it is soooo different. They still have their work cut out politically for a few years yet, but over time the world better watch out, because South Africa is on its way!

And that is also true of the Wagyu industry there, which is so like the Australian industry was say, fifteen years ago. However, hopefully they will not have to face some of those earth-shattering changes that our industry went through over the years. No doubt they will face their own unique challenges, but they have the will, the drive and the people to get them to the other side in good order.

We were blown away by Embryo Plus and the work done there. It was wonderful to finally put faces to the names and voices we have been dealing with for the past decade and to meet with some of the great pioneers who have been buying our seedstock. We visited farms throughout the Transvaal (doesn’t that sound so exotic!?) and even flew down to Capetown to visit (I have to say it) THE most beautiful farm I have ever seen. It was strange to be able to recognise the cattle and identify from which donor or sire the calves had come, so far from home.

The hospitality we were shown was incredible. We don’t have a culture of “guest houses” for visitors in this country – best we seem to be able to do is a bed and breakfast and you’re on your own for dinner! Not so in South Africa. There, nothing but the best … and the food, the hospitality, the amenities: just amazing. We cannot thank them enough.

Please have a look at some photographs that will speak better than I can.

Merry Christmas everyone.