Wagyu pioneer honoured

He has travelled extensively, researched the Wagyu breed thoroughly and delivered dozens of speeches at the request of industry organisations.

But he is just as happy to be working on his home base in the Alexandra hills.

He was named in the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the general division of the Australia Day awards for services to the beef cattle industry.

He joins the other co-founder of dairy week, Brian Leslie, who already has an OAM.

He is grateful for the acknowledgement of his work.

David, 74, was involved in running the first on-farm embryo transfer work in 1979. He first met Brian Leslie, who was 16, when he was sourcing embryos from overseas.

“Brian and Leslie had run a sale at Gippsland and they decided to run a ‘big event’ when we were working for Elders.

“Brian and I had a good relationship. Brian’s chief interest was showing cattle, and I had some management strengths. We both did our own thing and got on well,” he says of the development of IDW.

“But I couldn’t have done it without my wife, Julie and family. (They have three daughters and one son, and nine grand children).

“We’ve been married more than 50 years and she has been a great support all the way.”

He started working life as a stock agent, in the early days taught embryo transfer work overseas, was a consultant to the Mexican government, and his extensive overseas experience all laid down a foundation for where his business is today.

While on one of his United States’ visits, to Texas’ A&M University in 1988, David got his first look at Wagyu cattle and he liked what he saw.

Wagyu, originating in Japan, is prized for its marbling and taste and attracts premium prices in restaurants

David formed Blackmore Wagyu in 1990.

But the Wagyu he saw were not the most attractive of animals.

“I was looking at the first Wagyu with an owner/breeder in the US and I said to him: “Don, these cattle are so ugly that I don’t know how I am going to go back to Australia and describe them.”

In his Texas drawl he said “Son, they just look like money to me!”

He secured the exclusive rights to import the famed Takeda Wagyu embryos and semen into Australia.

From 1992 to 2006, David imported more than 80 per cent of the Wagyu genetics into Australia.

Today, he can’t keep up with the demand, currently running at about 70 to 75 carcases a month.

His properties at Alexandra, Finley, Darraweit Guim, and Benalla generate Wagyu beef, slaughtered off-site according to strict specifications and exported to restaurants in 14 countries.

Although physically challenged at 74, he is happy to report he still has his mental acuity,

“I’m here as long as I can look after myself,” he said from his Alexandra farm.

Last year, he was inducted into the Australian Wagyu Association’s Hall of Fame.

David is no longer involved in IDW, but still takes an interest, and he made an appearance last week at Tatura.

He recalls the days when it was established under a big gum tree and the exhibitors endured hot January weather.

The sponsors were in tents which were flooded on the first night.

“The first Holstein judge was Canadian and it was stinking hot. It nearly killed him in the heat. We had to go and find him an Akubra to wear and cover him in sunscreen,” he said.

“Don McKenzie, with the shire, was fantastic in helping to get set up.”

His awards have included the Maggie Beer Award in 2016, the Howard W Yelland Award in 2013, the Festival Legend Inductee, for the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival in 2013, the National Livestock Producer of the Year in 2012 and the Telstra Business Awards Regional Winner, Victoria, in 2011.