AWA COVID-19 Update 27 March 2020 | Australian Wagyu Association

The AWA has been implementing systems to support ongoing delivery of normal services for our members. The AWA is complying with all directions from Federal and State Governments.
As communicated previously, over the past weeks, we have been trialling remote work arrangements for our member services systems. From Monday the 30th of March 2020, AWA staff will be working remotely.

Staff will have access to usual telephone and email facilities, although we recommend members utilise email as their primary mechanism for communication for the time being.
We are allowing for staff to work their standard hours between 8am and 6pm to help manage the challenges of remote working. We aim to maintain all current services for members, but please be patient with response times.

We have been working closely with our DNA testing laboratory partners. All laboratory partners are planning management of supplies and services to maintain testing for our members. With increasing pressure on mail and courier systems, please ensure that you use mail tracking facilities for all samples sent to DNA labs.

AWA DNA test request and registration systems are continuing as normal. Members have been very active in MiP to SNP DNA testing and we encourage you to continue to take advantage of promotional pricing offers from all labs. Our BREEDPLAN partners ABRI and AGBU have confirmed that they have implemented systems to deliver our normal monthly Wagyu BREEDPLAN runs.
Regulations and restrictions regarding management of COVID-19 can change rapidly and may impact AWA or our vital service supply partners. We have implemented controls to enable minimal disruption to member services based on the current situation. If there is any change, we will communicate this to you.

Lastly, we wish you all good health and our thoughts are with our Wagyu community as we navigate through the coming months together.

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.