Nothing but the best in stock transport is good enough for farmer Andrew Deacon who produces what’s been described as the “best beef in Britain”.
So, he chose what he regards as a five-star way of pampering them while in transit, by using a trailer made by Ifor Williams Trailers.
Mr Deacon, a retired businessman, began farming in Suffolk five years ago and started a special feeding programme with Aberdeens and Herefords with the aim of producing beef of exceptional eating quality.
He then decided to go a step further and breed Wagyu cattle, which originate from Japan.
The first person to breed the animals in Britain was David Wynne-Finch, who kept them on the Voelas estate on the Llyn Peninsula, in North Wales, until the 150-strong herd was sold to Mr Deacon last year.
The meat that comes from Wagyu is famous as Kobe beef, named after the city in Japan. They are bred for their steak, which sells at up to £200 a kilo in London department stores. It has been described as “the Rolls Royce or the Stradivarius of steak”.
On his farm at Earl Stonham, Suffolk, the animals lead a charmed life, being fed a rich but secret blend of cooked maize and other natural ingredients.
The animals mature slowly and therefore live longer than most cattle before being slaughtered, and the meat is of such high quality that it needs specialist butchery.
His steaks are so exceptional that, at present, they can be eaten only at the world-famous Michelin-starred Le Manoir Aux Quat’ Saisons run by Raymond Blanc in Oxfordshire – though Wagyu burgers are available the Shepherd and Dog, Mr Deacon’s “local” in Earl Stonham.
The Wagyu are killed individually and Mr Deacon was adamant that nothing would be too good for his animals, so he decided to extend the pampering by acquiring the best trailer possible to transport them. The trailer is also used for the transport of animals from Mr Deacon’s flock of 600 Speckle-faced Beulah sheep.
“I was aware of the reputation of Ifor Williams Trailers,” he said.
He learned that the nearest suppliers of their trailers, which are manufactured in North Wales, were Agroco Trailers in Great Bricett, just five miles away from Earl Stonham. He therefore bought a TA510 12×6 trailer with decks, which he uses for transporting sheep and individual Wagyu.
“It’s been perfect for my purpose and I have been very pleased with it,” he said. “I knew Ifor Williams Trailers by repute and it has proved to be very well designed and made.”
Agroco Trailers became distributors for Ifor Williams Trailers in 2004 and they have one of the largest stocks of their trailers in East Anglia.
Owner Andy Ruffle said: “When we were approached by Andrew Deacon we were pleased to be able to help him, and we were confident that the trailer from Ifor Williams Trailers would do the job perfectly.
“His Wagyu herd has become very well-known and it’s good to be associated with such a prestigious venture,” he added.
Andrew Reece-Jones, the Design Engineering Manager at Ifor Williams Trailers, said they were extremely pleased that they were helping to transport such precious beasts.
He added: “The trailer used by Andrew Deacon has not been modified in any way. He wants to create the perfect British steak and we are delighted to be able to provide a perfect form of transport for these extremely valuable animals.”
