AWA announces Spring Elite Wagyu Sale | Australian Wagyu Association

With genetic progress comes opportunity in Wagyu

Important Update: New Date 4 November 2020, 1pm AEDT

The Australian Wagyu Association’s Elite Wagyu Sale has become the international Wagyu industry’s leading seedstock sale, attracting high interest from international vendors and buyers in the last three annual events. In recognition of the strong global demand, the Australian Wagyu Association has today expanded the elite sale program to a southern hemisphere Spring and Autumn format, giving two sales per year.

The Australian Wagyu Association CEO Dr. Matt McDonagh says “The demand levels we are now seeing are clearly underwritten by the unique strength of AWA genomic analysis.

“AWA released genomic analysis for the global wagyu industry in 2018. In the past three years, our members have conducted more than 70,000 genomics tests and more than 80% of animals registered in the last year used 50K genomics.

“This provides unparalleled genomic coverage within our Single-Step Wagyu BREEDPLAN analysis. The Australian Wagyu Association is also unique amongst its seedstock sector peers in that it operates an international genetic evaluation service.”

AWA has members from 20 countries that are international cattle breeders that register Fullblood Wagyu with the AWA. The AWA enables its members to demonstrate integrity in their claims relating to Fullblood Wagyu through its pedigree database, which is the largest outside of Japan.

Dr McDonagh says the level of global interest in AWA Single-Step Wagyu BREEDPLAN EBVs and the Elite Wagyu Sale has been clearly evident in the results from the last three annual Elite Wagyu Sales. The decision to hold a Spring Sale in addition to the Autumn event will provide the global Wagyu sector with improved access to the elite Wagyu gene pool. The Elite Wagyu Sale – Spring 2020, will be held on 29 October 2020.

New Sale Parameters

In previous Sales, interest from Vendors has been well above the cap of 100 Lots; moving forward, the Sale will be capped at 70 Lots, enabling 140 Lots annually to be presented to potential buyers from around the world across the two sales.

Live animals and genetics will represent the top 5% of the Wagyu breed, as listed in Wagyu BREEDPLAN, and with that in mind the Elite Wagyu Sale – Spring 2020 will introduce updated entry regulations to improve the quality and diversity provided within the sale catalogue.

Buyers can expect to see:

An increase in minimum EBV accuracy and number of EBVs in the top 5% of the breed;
Genomics testing and genetic condition status for parents of semen and embryo;
Greater diversity in sale catalogue lots including rare genetics; and
Total sale lots have been reduced to 70 for each Sale.

The Elite Wagyu Sale – Spring 2020 will also be the first time that Vendors and Buyers can utilise the recently introduced Wagyu Breeder $Index and the soon to be released, Japanese Fullblood Black Prefectural Analysis in their selling and buying decisions.

New Breeder Index

The Wagyu Breeder $Index (WBI) is the second self-replacing profitability Index to be introduced by the AWA. It enables improved selection of animals for growth and maternal productivity in low-input pastoral conditions that are typical across much of the Australian production environment. The WBI was introduced to the Wagyu industry via the AWA Wagyu Webinar series on 18 June 2020. Watch the webinar now.

The Wagyu Breeder $Index complements the existing Self-replacing $Index that is suited to more temperate and higher-input production systems, that place more emphasis on supplementation and high marbling outcomes.

The Elite Wagyu Sale- Spring 2020 will also be the first to list the unique Japanese Prefectural Content Values of each individual animal within the catalogue for Fullblood Japanese Black Wagyu. Available from the 2^nd of July, 2020, the Prefectural Values show the linkages between the AWA’s Japanese Black Wagyu herd and their Japanese origins. The Prefectural origins of Japanese Black cattle provide insight into genetic diversity and distinctive animal types within the breed. The AWA will introduce its work on the publication of Prefectural Values within is 2 July 2020. Watch the webinar now.

Entries for the Elite Wagyu Sale – Spring 2020 are now open, closing 24 August 2020.

For more information, go to www.wagyu.org.au/ews, or call +61 2 8880 7700

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.

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