AWA member services

Support, promote and advance Wagyu production

Delivering member services, genetic improvement and embracing membership diversity

We have seen significant growth in the Australian Wagyu Association (AWA) core business, delivery of outcomes from key research and development projects along with the commencement of new major projects which will advance the Wagyu sector for years to come.

The growth in AWA member numbers and DNA tests is a testament to the confidence that the Wagyu sector places in the value that AWA provides. Our global member base is more than 1,000 members from 30 different countries. Our objectives are to Support, Promote and Advance Wagyu production through:

Support – the way we serve AWA members
Promote – our commitment to the industry through stimulating adoption and sharing of knowledge with AWA members
Advance – we seek to continuously build on the unique and valuable attributes of Wagyu, preserving and leveraging the benefits of Wagyu with the broader industry.

 

The AWA manages the world’s largest Wagyu database for parentage and genetic analysis with over 22,000 sires and 150,000 dams registered in the system. Each year, more than 25,000 calves are added into the database.

Analysis is undertaken by a leading genetic evaluation system on 14 key Wagyu production traits and four selection $indexes reporting the results every two weeks so breeders can make the informed breeding decision with the latest information.  Over 100,000 genotypes are included in this analysis across 250,000 animals spanning up to ten generations. 

 


Member benefits

The Australian Wagyu Association delivers benefits to its members through

Genectis and data management
DNA testing, pedigree, registration and genomic analysis. Access to tools that will assist members to maximise the outcomes of their Wagyu business through accelerated genetic improvement, production system management and access to the beef supply chain
Communication, connection & collaboration
Industry insights, newsletter, industry information updates, advice and access to the latest genetic improvement data, animal registration and pedigree information, production system innovations and improved access to the Wagyu supply chain
Promotion
Run events like annual WagyuEdge Conference and Tour, Elite Wagyu Sale and Wagyu Branded Beef Awards with reduced entry fee for members 

 

We have a team of dedicated specialists in the AWA office that will assist members with all registration and DNA enquiries of our members.

Fullblood and commercial breeding

There are two Wagyu breeds outside of Japan – Japanese Black and Red Wagyu (or Japanese Brown). In Japan, the Red Wagyu is known as Akaushi.

The three major prefectural sub-populations within the Japanese Black represented in the Australian population are Tajiri or Tajima (Hyogo prefecture), Fujiyoshi (Shimane) and Kedaka (Tottori).  Principally used as agricultural work animals, the prefecture herds evolved distinctively in regional geographic isolation in Japan.   The Hyogo prefecture herd has remained segregated into the current era.   A dominant sire line in Japanese Black breeding since the 1960s descended from Dai 7 Itozakura, becoming known as the Itozakura line

Red Wagyu  (Akaushi) consist of Kochi and Kumamoto, which have been strongly influenced by Korean and European breeds, particularly Simmental.

Three different categories of animals are registered with the AWA:

FULLBLOOD
Parentage can be proven by DNA testing to be 100% linked to founder animals exported from Japan.

Japanese Prefectural Bloodlines (download our FactSheet)

CROSSBRED
An animal produced through cross a Wagyu sire over a female from another cattle breed (F1).  Crossbred animals may be F1 (50%), F2 (75%), F3 (87.5%) or F4 (93.75%) through crossing female progeny back to Wagyu Fullblood sires.

The AWA has developed a bull buying guideline for F1 Wagyu producers. Find out more

PUREBRED
An F4 or higher whose sire is fullblood and whose dam is F3 or higher. The production systems and supply chain for Wagyu can be categorised into:

Breeding – for the purpose of producing sought-after seedstock and commercial production genetics
Backgrounding – to feedlot entry weight at 200-340kg
Lotfeeding – typically 350+ days for Crossbred and up to 600 days for Fullblood
Carcase sales
Beef sales
– sold as frozen or chilled carton, principally to overseas markets

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