Features 2 minutes 05 December 2016

There Are Two New Wagyu Brands In Town, And Chefs Are Obsessed With It

Here are 5 reasons why.

Some of the most highly credentialed Wagyu cattle to leave Japan, the Westholme Wagyu herd are bred from three Japan-born, Hongen-registered champion sires and Hongen-registered Kedaka, Tajiri and Fujiyoshi females. Over two decades, the almost 200-year-old Australian Agricultural Company (AACo) has built on these foundation bloodlines to produce an outstanding, even herd of Wagyu cattle that set the high standard of Westholme beef.

Its more premium cousin, also produced by AACo, is Wylarah Beef, named after Wylarah Station in Southern Queensland. Wylarah beef is produced by a herd of Wagyu cattle from a station steeped in history, and that represents the focus the company has on elite genetics, breeding and production systems that produce the very best beef.

Wylarah is finished on a proprietary blend of grains including wheat, sorghum and oats, sweetened with molasses for trace minerals. The grains are freshly milled every morning to provide the best nutrition. The grass and grain work together to deliver intense marbling, complexity, and depth of flavour.
Wylarah is finished on a proprietary blend of grains including wheat, sorghum and oats, sweetened with molasses for trace minerals. The grains are freshly milled every morning to provide the best nutrition. The grass and grain work together to deliver intense marbling, complexity, and depth of flavour.
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1. Only the best of the best

Wylarah is a brand that represents the best of the best practices in breeding, genetics, production, processing and identifying the highest quality cuts and the best ways to serve this beef to diners around the world. As such, not all fullblood Wagyu make it into Wylarah. Similarly, not all cuts make it into Wylarah.

Even with almost 200 years of experience raising one of the largest cattle herds in the world and the largest Wagyu herd in the world, very few of these animals are deemed to be of a high enough standard to be classified as Wylarah. Each Wylarah cut is hand selected to make sure that every experience meets a diner’s expectation of excellence.

2. Full traceability

Australia is second to none as a destination with a reputation for producing clean, green and safe livestock. It is a country free of all major endemic livestock diseases and there’s a national traceability system in place that - together with national standards for animal health, welfare and biosecurity - ensures best practices in animal husbandry and low-stress stock handling. In a world where food safety concerns are at the forefront of every diner’s mind, you can be assured of only the cleanest, safest cuts of beef from a Wylarah or Westholme order.

Wylarah's breeding and selection program uses the latest genetic resource management tools including DNA analysis, intra-muscular scanning and carcass scanning, customised breeding indexes and performance measurements to select only the very best cattle.
Wylarah's breeding and selection program uses the latest genetic resource management tools including DNA analysis, intra-muscular scanning and carcass scanning, customised breeding indexes and performance measurements to select only the very best cattle.

3. Top-notch breeding facilities

Westholme cattle are bred on AACo’s properties that are spread all across northern Australia – stretching from Queensland to the Northern Territory. And each of these stations plays a unique role in the business: some stations focus on breeding bulls, some on producing steers and heifers, and others on producing Wagyu or grain-fed or grass-fed cattle. What’s more, each station is managed under the watchful eyes of a farming family who are deeply passionate about raising cattle and taking care of their land.

4. Terroir matters

To achieve the perfect balance of flavour and marbling throughout the cut, all Wylarah cattle are raised on grass and finished on grain. And just like fine wines, the terroir of Wylarah reflects the rainy season and the dry season, the character of the land, the families that steward it, and the cattle’s unique breeding and nutrition. Cumulatively, the vast Australian outback, the green pastures and freshly milled feed, combined with the calm environment maintained by the families that steward these plains all help to create Wylarah’s terroir.

5. Satisfied diners every time

As seen from the range of delicious dishes showcased by guest chefs such as Malcolm Lee of one-Michelin-starred Candlenut, Daniel Chavez of Ola Cocina del Mar, Rishi Naleendra of Cheek by Jowl and several others at the brand's recent launch at Spago in the Marina Bay Sands, the variety of cuts of Westholme and Wylarah beef, and their versatility to be used for different cooking methods can inspire chefs to create amazing and memorable dishes. Chefs can also be reassured they are getting the very best quality, through the Certificate of Authenticity included in every box of Wylarah, guaranteeing AACo’s commitment to Wylarah’s quality and authenticity.

Watch the videos below to find out more about the production of Wylarah and Westholme beef:

Westholme (@westholmebeef) and Wylarah (@wylarah) are now available in Singapore at Culina Dempsey (@culinadempsey), Culina's independent gourmet flagship boutique at 8 Dempsey Road, #01-13, Singapore 247696.”

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