Wagyus- Loving the Cumbrian Winter

When I did my research on the Wagyus in the province of Kobe in Japan I found them housed in barns in temperatures of more than 100 degrees fahrenheit. Each barn had three enormous fans whose purpose I thought was to cool down the animals until I was told by my Japanese hosts that they were there to blow away the stench of the ammonia, caused by the animal’s urine, which, were it not for the fans would be overpowering in the heat.

Conditions in Cumbria are completely different from those in Kobe. For a start, we have grass on which the cattle can feed- in Kobe they are given grain, which is imported from Canada or Australia (some carbon footprint!). In Kobe the cattle are kept in the barns year round, three to a stall, whereas ours have the freedom of the fells. They run free with the Highlanders, the Galloways and the Blue Greys, all of which are hardy and don’t need shelter whatever the weather. We didn’t know how the Wagyus would take to the great outdoors so I was pleased to see them thriving outside in the bleak midwinter. They have a barn in which they can shelter, but they seem happy to remain with their pals on the fells, whatever the weather.