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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

Young Wagyu Breeders Group

 

The Young Wagyu Breeders Group (WAGYOUTH) was setup by a group of young enthusiastic Wagyu Breeders, made capable by funding from the Wagyu Fellowship Program in 2024. WAGYOUTH intends to provide forefront thought and education on sustainability, market access, genetic analysis & technology among Australian Wagyu breeders aged 18 to 30 years old. This consists of assisting the youth in navigating the differences they find within the breed, providing dynamic thought and consideration. Members have the opportunity to learn from the best in the industry through different sorts of mentorship & networking, providing an alternative aspect to the way they currently do things.

Use the subscription button below to keep up-to-date with all things WAGYOUTH including the latest news and events happening in your area.

SUBSCRIBE TO WAGYOUTH

Calf Survival Research

Implementing learnings on-farm

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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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