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Driving innovation and growth in the Wagyu Sector

The Australian Wagyu Association unveils its five-year Strategic Plan

Tuesday, 26 November 2024

In 2024, the Australian Wagyu Association Board has been dedicated to developing a new Strategic Plan for 2025-2030, aimed at enhancing the AWA’s growth by delivering even more value return from the investments made by our members. As a public company constituted with member stakeholders instead of shareholders, we seek to provide value to all members large and small, breeders and supply chain participants.  All members of the AWA are equal in the eyes of the AWA Constitution.

This new strategic plan expands on the fundamental principles of the AWA 2020-2025 Strategic Plan to Support, Promote and Advance the Production of Wagyu. It also encapsulates the vision from the AWA’s 10-year roadmap to establish itself as the global leader in innovation and delivery in the Wagyu industry. Delivering on the strategic intent of these prior corporate plans has enabled significant and rapid progress by the AWA for the benefit of all members. Today, we stand as the envy of the world as a collective of Wagyu breeders and supply chain stakeholders.

Launched during the AWA’s Tech Workshop in Brisbane, the 2025-2030 Strategic Plan clearly defines our corporate purpose: “For our Members, For the Industry.” It recognises that our key principles—”Support, Promote, and Advance”—along with our goal of being the “World Leader in Innovation and Delivery for the Wagyu Sector,” are all driven by our fundamental mission to deliver value for our members and the entire Wagyu Sector.

Over the past decade, we have built the most comprehensive and diverse database of animals, performance data, and genotypes contributed by our global community of members. This achievement is a result of our collaborative efforts of AWA members to advance the industry as a whole.

As we face a limited gene pool shared worldwide, our future relies on our ability to thoroughly understand genetic variation, diversity and trait performance across the entire Wagyu population. We aim to foster a culture of inclusiveness and integrity ensuring that every member’s contributions are respected and valued, which will ultimately enhance the AWA’s tools and services.

This plan outlines the AWA’s objectives for the next five years of industry advancement. You can download a copy of the plan here.

Watch the launch of the plan at the recent AWA Technical Workshop.

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.

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