Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD, accompanied by officials from his Department and Bord Bia, recently attended an ‘Olive Fed Beef Tasting’ organised by Irish livestock feed producers, The Olive Feed Corporation, at which Wagyu beef fed on a new, natural livestock
feed supplement formulated from fresh olives, after their oil had been extracted, was served.
Produced on the company’s Millmount Farm in Edenderry, the Wagyu beef served to Minister Creed was prepared and cooked by Grainne O’Keefe, Head Chef at Dublin’s Clanbrassil House Restaurant, while the event itself was arranged by The Olive Feed Corporation founder, Gavin Dunne, so that the Minister and his Bord Bia officials would have the opportunity to personally experience and enjoy the taste and texture of Irish Wagyu beef fed on the unique olive feed.
The Olive Feed product is being sold as a finishing feed intended for consumption by prized Wagyu cattle whose beef is becoming increasingly popular in world markets, including Ireland, where it is sold in leading restaurants and much sought after by Michelin star chefs.
Already, beef producers on three continents are committed users of the feed with orders being shipped from The Olive Feed Corporation’s production facility in Nafplio Greece to customers in California, Oklahoma, Florida, New South Wales and Italy’s Sud Tirol region. The Company also provides distribution services for farmers who use the feed, constructed around a worldwide delivery network appointed over the last 6 months by founder Gavin Dunne whilst participating with Bord Bia and Minister Creed on recent international trade missions to Japan, Korea and China.
Praising what he termed the ‘exceptionally silky and light texture’ of the olive fed Wagyu beef served at the tasting, Minister Creed commented on the potential that Irish-bred Wagyu beef, fed on the new olive-based compound, could have in export markets in the future, and on the contribution Ireland could make towards spearheading the commercialisation of this type of beef in Europe.
Recognising what he termed the ‘growing consumer demand’ for Wagyu beef internationally, and the premium price it attracts, both in restaurants and in butcher shops, the Minister urged farmers and beef producers generally ‘to take account of the very significant opportunity that this new beef product represents.’
