Experts say a kilo of its meat can reach up to 100 euros, so it is considered the most expensive in the world. And the first Red Wagyu cows, one of the four Japanese beef breeds of Wagyu origin, to appear in Portugal had an Azorean finger to it.
Professor Moreira da Silva, from the Research Center of Agricultural Technologies of the University of the Azores, and Gerry Estrela, Unicol's artificial insemination technician, were vital to the project put forth by Hugo Patrício, a businessman from Castelo Branco. The first calves – out of the expected 200 that the entrepreneur intends to reach – were born this year, evidencing the Azorean wisdom in the field of artificial insemination.
The entire project, which involved freezing and transporting embryos of the Japanese breed existing in the United States of America, and later thawing and insemination in mainland Portugal, had its first practical results in January of this year, with the birth of the first three calves (one male and two females), from seven embryos inserted in heifers of the Holstein Friesian dairy breed in April 2019.
"For me, at a professional level, it was very rewarding and it was one of the great challenges I've already had," says Gerry Estrela with pride. The Unicol technician acknowledged the process went smoothly, also thanks to the support of the School of Agriculture (ESA) of the Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, that requested the services of the Unicol technician and those of the lecturer at the University of the Azores.
Moreira da Silva points out that this invitation "validates" all the work that has been developed in the Azores in this area in recent years, recalling that the first artificial insemination of frozen semen in Portugal occurred in Terceira.
"We had a success of 50, 60 percent, a very good result, considering these were frozen and thawed embryos which had to travel a long way, from the United States to Castelo Branco. It's not usual and there are no people in Portugal who have done this", he points out.
The birth of the first pure calves of the Red Wagyu breed – also known as Akaushi – is the first step towards the businessman's goal of reaching two hundred cows in the short term.
Speaking to Jornal do Fundão, Hugo Patrício tells a little more about the project: "We are exploring the banks of Alqueva, where our animals can enjoy the tranquility of the largest artificial lake in Europe. We are developing a project where animal welfare, organic production and the preservation of the environment are our priority".