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 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.