Recently, Rapid Bay Inc. of Ormstown was recognized for the third time in the “Champion of the World” competition for beef cattle. Farm owner Stephen Borland says that they have been involved in the competition for several years.
The competition was founded in 2012 by PJ Budler, a fifth-generation cattle farmer originally from South Africa who is now based in Texas. He judges cattle competitions around the world. Because this competition is an international affair, Borland says that it has become “a real factor in the beef industry globally, because it lets all countries compete against each other.” Rapid Bay has won three times with three different animals; the first was in 2019 with a female, then in 2021 with a male, and recently, in 2024, with another female. Each of these wins were in the Akaushi category, also known as red Wagyu.
As of now, Rapid Bay is the only Akaushi farm in Canada. “The red Wagyu are a totally different breed from the black. They have much more muscle, they’re heavier, they’re bigger framed, and yield about 30 per cent more meat with the same incredible marbling,” Borland explains. Being recognized for this kind of cattle, especially being from a “dairy province,” is exciting and great for wider marketing.
The competition uses photographs, which makes it accessible to international participants. The submissions must be of individual bovines from the year of the competition. Borland says, “We pick a few that we think are at their best, and from those photos I pick the one that is the most competitive.” There are 19 judges from 19 countries at the competition, and four judges for each breed.
The cow who won this year is named Akaibara, and she has offspring in five countries around the world. She is now known as the greatest Wagyu female in the world – a huge honour for Borland and his farm.