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The Wagyu Fellowship

Scholarship Program

WAGYU FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

The Wagyu Fellowship program is to allow students to undertake research for the advancement of Wagyu to share with industry, with multiple options for members of the industry that may find themselves in different research/study circumstances.

Any projects that can be shown to be of value to the Wagyu industry will be considered.  This may include any sector of the Wagyu supply/value chain and may include interests such as genetics, breeding, production, nutrition, processing, and meat science.

Objectives of the program are to develop younger leaders for the Wagyu industry; increase the education, experience and skills within the Wagyu industry; develop lasting friendships across the international Wagyu industry and advance knowledge and learning in the Wagyu industry.

Wagyu Study Fellowship

A Wagyu Fellowship is a remarkable opportunity to research a topic that you are passionate about and experienced in, that contribute to the improvement of the Wagyu sector. Aimed at young people who wish to undertake on-farm or independent projects to advance the Wagyu Sector. Offered to those not undertaking formal studies, it is open to members of the Wagyu sector.

Wagyu Postgraduate Fellowship

Developed to support postgraduate University students looking to undertake research on Wagyu topics.

Dr Simon Coates Scholarship for Veterinary and Reproduction Science

The Dr Simon Coates Scholarship for Veterinary and Reproductive Science is aimed at students students who are studying veterinary science or researching reproduction and breeding in relation to Wagyu.

Through the Dr Simon Coates Scholarship for Veterinary and Reproductive Science, we can continue to recognise the great contributions of one of our founding members and honour his passion for the advancement of Wagyu.

APPLY FOR A STUDY FELLOWSHIP

Wagyu Genetic Diversity Fellowship

This grant would provide $10,000 towards assisting members to nominate 2 sires for the AWA PTP that demonstrate high genetic diversity. Using genomic information, the AWA can determine high genetic diversity sires within each year of birth and seek to assist members with high diversity sires to participate in the AWA-PTP. The AWA member would be required to nominate two high genetic diversity sires, identified to the member by the AWA and pay the fee of $7,500 per sire. The AWA would then award the member with a Genetic Diversity Grant, providing $10,000 to the AWA member to assist with costs of semen testing and collection of genetic materials of interest to the AWA for future benefit of the breed. The AWA may keep the straws of the sire for Auction by tender or for use in future AWA programs.

If the AWA awarded two Wagyu Fellowship Genetic Diversity Grants per year, the AWA would secure 12 high genetic diversity sires within the AWA-PTP within the first 3 years of the program.

APPLY FOR A GENETIC DIVERSITY FELLOWSHIP

Wagyu Net Feed Intake Fellowship

This grant provides $10,000 towards assisting members who have implement Net Feed Intake recording infrastructure using Vytelle/GrowSafe feeders. As an example, a Wagyu Fellowship NFI Recording Grant of AUD $10,000 could be provided to an AWA member implementing a 4-node or higher number NFI recording system to complete implementation of the system (not including capital costs), offset management costs and running costs over a 3-year period to incentivise recording of Net Feed Intake on registered animals and provision of data to the AWA to support development and implementation of an NFI EBV.

Through a 4-node system, a member could run 3 trials per year of 40 animals per trial, totalling 120 animals per year. If AWA awarded two Wagyu Fellowship NFI Grants per year for 3 years, it would enable cumulative testing of up to 1,440 animals over the 3 years, leaving an ongoing testing capacity of 720 animals per year. The AWA is already working with AWA-PTP contributor herds to make them aware of NFI testing and promote the benefits of NFI testing to them. The AWA may prioritise access to the grant to AWA-PTP herds or by members who commit to testing AWA-PTP progeny or large numbers of registered progeny and provision of this data to the AWA.

APPLY FOR A NET FEED INTAKE FELLOWSHIP

Calf Survival Research

Implementing learnings on-farm

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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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