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Keith Hammond and Wagyu on Tasmania's Robbins Island

A Tasmanian island cattleman turned a beef property to Wagyu in 1991 and later led the national breed association.

Who is Keith Hammond?

Keith Hammond belongs to the Hammond family, which the Australian Wagyu Association describes as pioneers of the national Wagyu industry and as the founders of Robbins Island Wagyu in Tasmania. The association's honour roll lists him as an Honorary Life Member and as the third president of the association, serving from 1997 to 1999.

It also notes that he was an active board member for more than 10 years. This profile covers his public industry record only; no personal details beyond that are documented in the sources used.

Robbins Island and the Hammond cattle business

Robbins Island and neighboring Walker Island sit off the north-west tip of Tasmania. According to the association's 30-year history, they ran dairy cattle until the early 1960s and then switched to beef.

Keith, John and Chauncey Hammond turned to Wagyu in 1991, looking to improve the profitability of the family cattle enterprise. Island Wagyu, also traded as Hammond Farms, appears on the honour roll under 25-year membership for 2021.

Building the herd: embryos from Don Lively

The Hammonds bought embryos of the Michifuku and Haruki 2 bloodlines, 200 in total, from American breeder Don Lively in 1991. Embryos were a sensible route into a market where live Wagyu imports were scarce and quarantine was costly.

They later added a herd bought from the Hunter Valley, giving the island operation a base of animals already in Australia.

Polled Wagyu and animal welfare

The history says the Hammonds promote the polled gene for animal welfare, since naturally hornless cattle avoid dehorning. In 2014 they formed a partnership with Mayura Station and Strathdale Wagyu to develop polled Wagyu.

The project shows how breed leaders can use genetics to solve a handling problem, not only to chase marbling scores.

The Key to Hammond's Success

The documented record points to a family that moved into Wagyu deliberately, bought genetics early and then took on association work to shape the breed.

The lessons below reflect only what the association history and honour roll record.

  • Change when margins demand it: the family moved from dairy to beef in the early 1960s and to Wagyu in 1991 to lift profitability.
  • Buy genetics in volume: 200 embryos from Don Lively gave the herd a foundation of named bloodlines.
  • Add existing herds: a later purchase from the Hunter Valley broadened the base.
  • Partner on traits: the 2014 polled Wagyu partnership pooled resources with two other breeders.
  • Serve the breed society: more than 10 years on the board and a term as president kept him close to standards and policy.

The Australian Wagyu Association behind the story

The association was formalised in February 1989 with seven members and was led by Peter Winkler until 1994, then by Dr Simon Coates until Hammond took over in 1997. By the time Hammond served, the member directory listed about 180 members.

Today the association says it has more than 700 members producing over 30,000 tonnes of beef annually.

Learn more

For more on how breeders and ranchers build herds, see the ranching pages on farm.FM, and a related read is a farm.FM story on island cattle.

Because the available sources are two association documents, including the full 30-year association history, this entry is marked thin on personal detail and adds accurate context about the breed society instead.

Timeline

  1. Early 1960sRobbins and Walker Islands shift from dairy cattle to beef
  2. 1989Australian Wagyu Beef Association formalised with seven members
  3. 1991Keith, John and Chauncey Hammond turn to Wagyu and buy 200 embryos from Don Lively
  4. 1997Keith Hammond becomes third president of the association
  5. 1999Presidential term ends
  6. 2000Association renamed the Australian Wagyu Association
  7. 2014Polled Wagyu partnership with Mayura Station and Strathdale Wagyu
  8. 2021Island Wagyu listed under 25-year membership

Frequently asked questions

Who is Keith Hammond?

Keith Hammond is a Tasmanian Wagyu breeder from the Hammond family of Robbins Island. He was the third president of the Australian Wagyu Association, serving from 1997 to 1999.

What is Island Wagyu?

Island Wagyu, also called Hammond Farms, is the Hammond family's Wagyu business on Robbins Island, Tasmania, which turned to Wagyu in 1991.

Where did the Hammonds get their Wagyu genetics?

They bought 200 embryos of Michifuku and Haruki 2 bloodlines from Don Lively in 1991, and later bought a herd from the Hunter 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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