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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 - 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

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