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AWA DATABASE

The Australian Wagyu Association Board is comprised of 10 Members as elected under the Constitution.

The Australian Wagyu Association Board unanimously supports publication of the AWA Wagyu BREEDPLAN, the largest genetic evaluation of Japanese Black and Red (Wagyu) cattle that is publicly available worldwide.

The AWA Board has a duty to review and continuously improve Wagyu BREEDPLAN for ongoing breed development.

The Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) within Wagyu BREEDPLAN and Profitability Indexes, updated monthly, are supported by AWA as representing the best scientific knowledge available at the time of publication.

AWA Board Directors are volunteers for a tenure of up to three years. Their role is to oversee AWA strategy and breed development.

AWA Board Members

President

Laird Morgan

Senior Vice President

Jeremy Cooper

Junior Vice President

Robyn Elphick

Treasurer

Hamish McIntyre

Director

Damien Curr

Director

Melinee Leather

Director

Adam Withers

Director

Steve Gibbons

Director

Nathan Roberts

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Laird Morgan

President

For general board enquiries, please email [email protected] or call please call 02 8880 7700

Laird is the owner/operator of Lillyvale Feedlot and Arubial Wagyu. A fourth-generation beef farmer, he is a graduate of Marcus Oldham and will bring to the Board an understanding of Wagyu strengths in comparison to the beef industry.

List of Committee Responsibilities:

President

Genetic Improvement Committee Member

Audit and Finance Committee Member

Corporate Affairs Committee Member

Conference and Competitions Committee Member

 

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Jeremy Cooper

Senior Vice President

For general board enquiries, please email [email protected]

List of Committee Responsibilities:

Genetic Improvement Committee Member

Conference and Competitions Committee Chair

 

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Robyn Elphick

Junior Vice President

For general board enquiries, please email [email protected]

Robyn is a third-generation beef producer, running Sunnyside Wagyu alongside her partner and parents. Located in Northern NSW, Sunnyside runs a Fullblood herd selling seedstock as well as a F1 and F2 commercial herd. Robyn has off farm qualifications in law, business and mediation with skills in legal analysis, risk assessment, critical analysis, negotiations and business communications. Robyn is a passionate Wagyu producer and will look to add value to the board by promoting collaborative and constructive governance in the continued development and innovation of the Wagyu sector.

List of committee responsibilities

Senior Advice President

Corporate Affairs Committee:  Chair

Genetic Improvement Committee Member

 

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Hamish McIntyre

Treasurer

For general board enquiries, please email [email protected]

List of Committee Responsibilities:

Treasurer

Audit and Finance Committee: Chair

Corporate Affairs Committee Member

 

Damien Curr

Damien Curr

Director

For general board enquiries, please email [email protected]

Damien Curr, is a fourth-generation cattleman, that has been involved in the Wagyu industry as a breeder since 2016.  His family business runs approximately 500 Angus cows, 1,000 PB cows and 500 Fullblood cows.  This variety gives him a good insight into the Wagyu industry at all levels.

Melinee Leather

Melinee Leather

Director

For general board enquiries, please email [email protected]

Melinee Leather, plans as an AWA Director, to champion strong governance, strategic policy and collaborative leadership to advance the Wagyu breed.  Her focus is on continuous genetic improvement, market access, and global recognition driving best practices and sustainable innovation to continue the position of Wagyu as a premium, progressive breed for future generations.

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Adam Withers

Director

For general board enquiries, please email [email protected]

 

List of committee responsibilities

Corporate Affairs Committee Member

Conference and Competitions Committee Member

Steve Gibbons

Director

For general board enquiries, please email [email protected]

Nathan Roberts

Director

For general board enquiries, please email [email protected]
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IMPORTANT NOTICE - Terms & Conditions

It is a condition of use of this database that you accept these terms and conditions. 

It is important that you appreciate when accessing the Australian Wagyu Association Limited (AWA) database (which may be hosted on an external website) that the information contained on the AWA database, including but not limited to pedigree, DNA information, Wagyu Breeding Values (WBVs) and Index values (together called Database Information), is based on data supplied by AWA members and/or third parties.  

Whilst sincere effort is made to ensure the Database Information is accurate and complete, to the extent permitted by law, AWA, its officers and employees, shall not be responsible for its use or interpretation, and you use the Database Information at your own risk. Please be aware of the following limitations of the Database Information.  

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

  • WBVs are derived using genetic evaluation technology developed for the AWA, using the information contained within the AWA database.  
  • WBVs are estimates of genetic potential of individual animals and may not reflect the raw animal phenotype.  
  • WBVs can only be directly compared to other WBVs calculated in the same AWA genetic analysis.  

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

  • Animals whose registration identifiers start with PED are Pedigree Recorded Animals. What this means is that the details which AWA used to register the animal were obtained from a Recognised Wagyu Registry Organisation – in other words a Wagyu breed association based outside of Australia. AWA has not independently verified the information with respect to the animal or the details recorded about the animal. You should read AWA’s by-laws which set out details regarding the definition of a Pedigree Recorded Animal.  
  • 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 genetic issues or inaccuracies which were previously not detectable are now able to be detected by current testing technology (i.e. if the animal was tested again with current 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 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.   

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

  • As genetic testing results are provided by independent DNA testing laboratories at the request of AWA members, AWA relies solely on the accuracy of the reporting of genetic testing as completed by the laboratories.  
  • AWA uses GeneProb software to calculate the likelihood of pedigree animals being a carrier of genetic conditions.  This likelihood is an estimate based on the available genetic testing results.  

If you consider that you do not understand or appreciate the nature and/or implications of the data provided on this website or the WBVs of a particular animal, then AWA strongly recommends that you seek expert advice.  Note there is substantial technical information and articles on the Wagyu website to assist our members. 

AWA’s liability for any loss or damage, consequential or otherwise, suffered or incurred by you or your related business, arising directly or indirectly from your use of Database Information, to the extent permitted by law, is limited to AWA providing you with a refund for the fees paid for the service (if any), or AWA re-performing the service, where possible, at the election of AWA.  

AWA administers this database in good faith to support AWA members and the industry. AWA does not represent or warrant that the animals recorded in this database, or animals breed from them, will achieve any particular genetic or phenotype performance.

THIS DISCLAIMER HAS BEEN UPDATED AS OF 03/02/2026, PLEASE ENSURE YOU HAVE READ IT IN DETAIL

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