AWA Welcomes Christian Duff as COO | Australian Wagyu Association

The AWA is pleased to report that following a highly competitive recruitment process, Dr Christian Duff will be commencing as Chief Operating Officer of the AWA in 2026.

Christian’s career reflects a lifelong commitment to the beef industry, including extensive experience in quantitative genetics, strategic project delivery and development of genetic and genomic products. He holds a PhD in beef cattle genetics from the University of New England and has led multidisciplinary teams across Angus Australia and the Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI).

Christian has deep experience directly related to managing the development and application of genetics and genomics tools for the beef cattle industry, including managing teams and partners to deliver the renowned reference population initiative, the Angus Sire Benchmarking Program, as well as the genomic products SteerSELECT and HeiferSELECT.

Christian has direct prior experience working with Wagyu breeders, through a partnership with Southern Beef Technology Services and the Australian Wagyu Association. Christian said “the opportunity to work with the AWA members and the Wagyu sector again is the perfect alignment of my skills and experience with the vision of the AWA”.

Christian commented that he is excited by the progress of Wagyu globally, recognising that the AWA’s membership spans more than 40 countries and that all breeders have the opportunity to participate in AWA’s genetic evaluation through registration, performance recording and using AWA’s genetic tools.

“I look forward to seizing the opportunity to not just assist the AWA’s members with further genetic improvement but also develop the new tools to help manage the breed’s unique characteristics, genetic diversity, sustainability and improve production performance. Wagyu has demonstrated to the red meat industry, that there doesn’t need to be separation between “seedstock” and “commercial” production. Part of Wagyu’s success is the ability to use industry data and feedback to drive genetic improvement to benefit the whole Wagyu supply chain”.

Christian’s prior work with the Australian Wagyu Association on technical support and genetic evaluation gives him a solid understanding of the sector’s needs and opportunities. More broadly, he has overseen genetic analyses, and related data pipelines, using pedigree, performance, and genomic data for multiple breed societies. His technical leadership has included overseeing genetic evaluation service delivery, implementing selection indexes, conducting EBV diagnostics, and collaborating with industry stakeholders, like the CSIRO, on genomic selection tools.

Although Christian’s technical qualifications were an important part of his selection as AWA COO, it was also his track record in fostering high performance teams, delivering a culture of accountability, innovation, and service excellence that made him the stand out for the role.

Christian said, “I am excited by the opportunity to contribute my experience and beef industry passion to AWA’s leadership team. I have watched Wagyu go from strength to strength and harness the unique attributes of the breed and the Wagyu sector to develop data systems underpinning the high value component of the global red meat industry. I look forward to supporting the AWA and your members to deliver their strategic goals and to deliver value to Wagyu producers across Australia and internationally.”

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:

Animals whose registration identifiers start with PED are Pedigree Recorded Animals. What this means is that the details which Australia Wagyu Association Limited (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 sets out details regarding the definition of a Pedigree Recorded Animal.
Future events cannot be predicted accurately. AWA makes no statements, representations or warranties as to the accuracy or completeness of, and you should not rely on, any information contained in the registration details of this animal or their capability to achieve any purpose. AWA disclaims all liability (including without limitation, liability for negligence) for all claims, expenses, losses, damages and costs you may incur as a result of the information set out in the registration details of this animal for any reason being inaccurate or incomplete in any way or incapable of achieving any purpose.
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.