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 - 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