Global benchmarking project underway | Australian Wagyu Association

The Australian Wagyu Association (AWA) 2021-2031 Progeny Test Program will join approximately 40 Fullblood Wagyu sires from across the globe, to more than 2,000 Australian-based Wagyu females. It is a global benchmarking project that will also develop much needed new Wagyu-specific traits for reproduction, structure, Net Feed Intake (efficiency), carcase yield and meat quality (including fatty acid profiles). The AWA invites its members to get involved in the AWA-PTP by nominating Sires and/or Contributor Cow Herds to take part in the Project.

Bull (Semen Sire) Owners

Both domestic and international AWA members can nominate Fullblood Wagyu Sires, giving bull owners the opportunity to have their Sires benchmarked against the best global Wagyu genetics on the largest Wagyu cow herds.

Through fixed-time artificial insemination, the project aims to produce a minimum of 12 steers and 12 heifer progeny per sire per year. These 24 progeny from your sires will be run in large contemporary groups with phenotype data to be collected from birth to slaughter (steers) or the weaning of the second calf (heifers). This data will be entered into AWA BREEDPLAN. We estimate that, on average, AWA-PTP sires will achieve 75% accuracy for carcase traits as a result of progeny performance data entry.

Members can nominate their bulls as “Standard Sires” to be used for one mating, or as “Link Sires” to be used across at least two breeding years. Link Sires serve an important purpose in creating linkage across years for the genetic analysis. They will also receive at least twice the amount of progeny as Standard Sires, further increasing EBV accuracy to approximately 85% and will essentially be benchmarked against proven sires.

Contributor Cow Herds

Australian-based AWA members with a minimum of 150 Herdbook registered females can also participate in the Project by nominating a proportion of their cow herd as a Contributor Herd. Cows, second calf or older, will undergo a single round of artificial insemination (AI) each year. Following AI, Contributor Herds can use a backup bull/s of their choosing to continue genetic progress within their existing herd.

Contributor Cow Herds will gain access to the leading next-generation genetics from around the world. They will retain ownership of all-female Project Progeny once the heifer’s second calf weaning data has been collected. This provides Contributor Herds with the opportunity to access rare genetics from the best Australian and International breeders. Contributor herds will also have the highest female accuracies and the best genetic information on females for the new traits produced through the AWA-PTP.

Keep up-to-date with the latest findings of the program. Read more

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.