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Technical Workshop

Presented 23 November 2021

Technical Workshop

The AWA hosted a technical workshop alongside the AGM on the 23rd November, with great success we welcomed 60 people to the Armidale Bowling Club as well as 80 people online. We heard from a number of experts in their field on structure, nutrition and the expansion of Wagyu feedlotting.

If you missed the workshop, catch up by streaming the videos below.

Guest Speakers

SESSION ONE 
Importance of structural traits in Wagyu

Lock was introduced to the Wagyu breed in 1993 and commenced breeding of Fullblood Wagyu in 1999 after a shortage of commercial Angus cows.

In the earlier days of the Door Key herd, Lock focused on high content Tajima bulls which would be best suited to use over the Wattletop Angus cow herd. It wasn’t long before they developed a clientele of mainly F1 breeders that used Door Key bulls.

Lock Rogers
Door Key Wagyu

SESSION ONE 
Pre-feedlot nutrition and opportunities in Wagyu

Rob joined IAP Pty Ltd as a consulting nutritionist and associate in February 2001 and has developed an extensive client base within Queensland, Northern New South Wales and Western Australia.

Prior to joining IAP, he was a nutritionist with Ridley Agriproducts, a feed manager with Whyalla Feedlot and also spent two years working in the Riverina on a sheep station. He has both a Bachelor and Masters in Rural Science; a Certificate in Meat Science from the University of New England and a PhD from the University of Queensland.


Dr Robert Lawrence
Consulting Nutritionist, IAP Nutrition

SESSION ONE 
Continued Development of the Rangers Valley Wagyu Program

Rangers Valley is one of the world’s most respected premium marbled beef producers, specialising in long fed pure Black Angus and Wagyu cross and Fullblood Wagyu. Bringing the consumer, the highest quality, best tasting, consistently tender and delicious beef, every time through its global export programs.

Keith Howe, Managing Director of Rangers Valley will join us to discuss the Wagyu program, which consists of a suite of branded beef products, from WX to WX9 and the Fullblood Infinite brand. The Rangers Valley feedlot just north of Glen Innes has had recent developments to include additional pen space. Keith will enlighten us on what the Rangers Valley business looks like now and what it looks like moving forward.

Keith Howe
Managing Director, Rangers Valley

SESSION TWO 
Wagyu Carcase Genetic Relationships

Dr Yuandan Zhang and Dr Gilbert Jeyaruban will talk about the recent analysis of Wagyu carcase traits to determine the heritabilities and relationships between traits.

This is an important piece of work with AWA members who have submitted more than 10,000 Fullblood carcase records since the last genetic analysis for Wagyu was conducted.

Dr Gilbert Jeyaruban
Senior Scientist, AGBU

Dr Yuandan Zhang
Scientist, AGBU

SESSION TWO 
Using Crossbred Wagyu genomic information in Wagyu BREEDPLAN

Dr Peter Wahinya and Dr Mohammad Ferdosi will talk about why including genomic data from crossbred Wagyu animals into the Fullblood and Purebred Wagyu BREEDPLAN run is complicated and how this challenge is being addressed.

Dr Mohammad Ferdosi
Research Fellow, AGBU

SESSION TWO
Crossbred data in Wagyu BREEDPLAN

AWA CEO Dr Matt McDonagh and TSM Carel Teseling will provide results comparing the Fullblood and Purebred Wagyu BREEDPLAN run with and without 9,500 parent verified Crossbred Wagyu carcase records. This is the first time all crossbred data has been available to test within Wagyu BREEDPLAN and the results will be described.

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Important Notice and Disclaimer

It is very important that you appreciate when viewing the AWA database that the information contained on the AWA database, including but not limited to pedigree, DNA information, Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) and Index values, is based on data supplied by members and/or third parties.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information reported through AWA, AWA officers and employees assume no responsibility for its content, use or interpretation. AWA disclaims all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs you may incur as a result of the use by you of the data on this AWA database and the information supplied by ABRI and AGBU being inaccurate or incomplete in any way for any reason.

Regarding EBVs and Index values, it is very important to appreciate, and you need to be aware that:

  • EBVs are derived using Wagyu Single Step BREEDPLAN technology developed independently by the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU), using the information contained within the AWA database.
  • AGBU is a joint venture of NSW Department of Primary Industries and the University of New England, which receives funding for this purpose from Meat and Livestock Australia Limited.
  • AWA relies solely on advice provided by AGBU and ABRI in accepting Wagyu Single Step BREEDPLAN software.
  • EBVs published in Wagyu Single Step BREEDPLAN are estimates of genetic potential of individual animals and may not reflect the raw animal phenotype.
  • EBVs can only be directly compared to other EBVs calculated in the same monthly Wagyu Group BREEDPLAN analysis.

Regarding pedigree and DNA testing results submitted to the AWA, it is very important to appreciate, and you need to be aware that:

  • Pedigree and DNA data submitted and supplied to AWA may have errors in it which cannot be detected without further DNA testing.
  • Technology may have advanced since a particular test was undertaken so that previous inaccuracies which were not detectable are now able to be detected by current testing technology.
  • AWA estimates that less than 1% of the pedigree entries, ownership or breeding details in the AWA Herdbook may have errors or which may be misleading. For this reason, users ought to consider if they need to obtain independent testing of the relevant animal (if possible) to ensure that the data is accurate.

Regarding prefectural content, it is very important to appreciate, and you need to be aware that:

  • Prefectural content is based on the estimation of prefectural origin from Japanese breeding records of 201 foundation sires and 168 foundation dams.  As genotype-based parent verification is not used in Japan, and full Japanese registration certificates are not available for all foundation animals, exact prefectural composition for these sires and dams cannot be validated.
  • The calculation of prefectural content for Australian Herdbook animals relies on the accuracy of pedigree records and DNA samples provided by AWA members.
  • The reporting of prefectural content for animals within the AWA Herdbook relies on the calculation provided by ABRI.

If you consider that you do not understand or appreciate the nature and extent of the data provided on this website or the EBVs of a particular animal, then AWA strongly recommends that you seek independent expert advice.

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