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Cattle Breeders and Breed Pioneers

Arthur Dew and Longford Station: Building a Large Fullblood Wagyu Herd

A former Angus live-export breeder who became one of Australia's most active Fullblood Wagyu seedstock producers.

Who is Arthur Dew?

Arthur Dew is a New South Wales cattle breeder whose Longford Station became one of the larger Fullblood Wagyu operations in Australia. He is a University of Sydney Law School graduate who was admitted as a solicitor and later as a barrister of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, but his public record in cattle is what earned him the Australian Wagyu Association's highest membership honor.

That honor was Honorary Life Membership, awarded in 2019 and described in the Australian Wagyu Association profile of Arthur Dew. The association's Board nominated him.

From Angus live export to Wagyu

Dew began in the early 1980s as an Angus breeder focused on live export steers to Japan. He worked through Elders International and Japanese feedlots, with Rangers Valley as a partner in that trade. Japan was a natural first market: breeders such as Dr Bill Costello of Nairn Park had visited it in the 1970s to explore Australian Angus beef, as described in the Angus Australia tribute to Bill Costello.

Dew then became aware of Wagyu when Peter Winkler imported the first live Wagyu heifer, an event the AWA credits with starting the Australian Wagyu industry. He joined the Australian Wagyu Association in 1996.

Building the Longford herd

The Longford herd is based on the Suzutani, Michifuku and Rikitani bloodlines. Further crosses from Takeda and Westholme sires have been used to strengthen the Fullblood herd.

Dew first concentrated on genetics, applying Japanese data to improve carcass weight and marbling. The breeding aim is around 50 percent Tajima blood, blended with Fujiyoshi and Shimane strains to maintain frame size and milking ability. Longford produces more than 2,000 calves across Fullblood, infused and purebred programs, mostly by natural mating with some artificial insemination.

The Key to Dew's Success

Longford's reach comes from consistency in breeding goals and heavy use of measurement. The AWA figures below are the association's reporting, so treat them as reported.

Dew's career also shows that a breeder can move into a new breed when the genetics are proven overseas and the infrastructure at home is just forming.

  • He joined the breed association early, in 1996, when the Australian Wagyu industry was young.
  • He set a defined blood target: around 50 percent Tajima, balanced with other strains.
  • He tested widely, with 1,828 50K genomic tests completed.
  • He proved his sires: 183 Fullblood bulls bred at Longford have produced nearly 10,000 progeny, about a quarter of them in other herds.
  • He kept a live export outlet, with Fullblood steers still sold to Japan.
  • He took part in feed-efficiency work, with Longford bulls in the Sire Progeny Net Feed Intake program at Kerwee Feedlot.

Registrations, bulls and numbers

The AWA reports that Longford has registered more than 12,000 cattle, including 4,342 Fullblood. Dams add to the record: 1,771 Fullblood cows bred at Longford have more than 10,000 registered progeny. Longford bulls have featured in the Elite Wagyu Sales.

These numbers show scale, but their real value is influence. When a quarter of a bull's progeny sit in other herds, the sire is changing the breed outside his home property.

Honorary Life Membership in 2019

In 2019 the AWA Board nominated Dew for Honorary Life Membership. His daughter accepted the award on his behalf at the AGM in Brisbane. The AWA's page gives dates for the article and the AGM that do not match, so this profile gives the year only.

Honorary life membership is a recognition within the breed society, not a national honor, and it reflects service over time. Another AWA recognition, the 2023 Wagyu Hall of Fame induction of Lock Rogers, shows how the association marks breeders who built the industry.

Why Wagyu in Australia matters

Wagyu cattle were first brought to Australia as live animals, and early breeders like Dew built the seedstock base that later fed marbled beef programs. Their work involved importing Japanese bloodlines, recording each animal and finding feedlot partners able to finish cattle properly.

Readers interested in beef breeds can explore the ranching section of farm.FM, or see a farm.FM story about Wagyu cattle.

Timeline

  1. Early 1980sBegins as an Angus breeder focused on live export steers to Japan
  2. 1996Joins the Australian Wagyu Association
  3. 2019Receives AWA Honorary Life Membership
  4. 2019 (reported)Longford has registered more than 12,000 cattle, including 4,342 Fullblood
  5. 2019 (reported)Longford produces more than 2,000 calves a year across its programs

Frequently asked questions

Who is Arthur Dew?

Arthur Dew is a New South Wales breeder of Fullblood Wagyu at Longford Station. He joined the Australian Wagyu Association in 1996 and received its Honorary Life Membership in 2019.

What bloodlines does Longford Station use?

The Longford herd is based on Suzutani, Michifuku and Rikitani bloodlines, with additional Takeda and Westholme sires, aiming for about 50 percent Tajima blood.

How many calves does Longford produce?

The AWA reports more than 2,000 calves a year across Fullblood, infused and purebred programs, mostly by natural mating with some artificial insemination.

What did Arthur Dew do before Wagyu?

In the early 1980s he bred Angus cattle for live export steers to Japan, working through Elders International and Japanese feedlots with Rangers Valley.

Sources and further reading

Profiles are compiled from public sources and reviewed against them. See our editorial policy to suggest a correction.

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