The Australian Wagyu Association has implemented four world-leading Selection $Indexes - a significant step forward for Wagyu breeders to achieve faster rates of genetic gain and selection for profitability in Wagyu.
Following implementation of Single-Step Wagyu BREEDPLAN in April 2018, the AWA has worked intensively with to develop and deliver the new Wagyu Selection $Indexes.
The four profitability $Indexes are designed to optimise profit outcomes from commercial breeder, self-replacing, Fullblood terminal and F1 terminal production systems. The indexes are:
- Breeder-Feeder $Index (BFI)
- Self-replacing Breeding $Index (SRI)
- Wagyu Fullblood Terminal $Index (FTI)
- Wagyu F1 Terminal $Index (F1 Index)
Each of the new $Indexes are targeted specifically for a defined production and market scenario and that members can identify and use the index that best suits their purpose.
Each Index is based on specific production models and the index values for different animals are only comparable within the same Index
The Breeder-Feeder Index (BFI) was released in February 2024 and is a new balanced Selection Index, to assist Wagyu breeders to select the most profitable animals in a self-replacing herd, whilst better managing birth weight, milk production, and mature cow weight.
The Breeder-Feeder Index:
- Promotes a high growth response, especially for post-weaning gain/Carcase Weight;
- Reduces the number of high ranking extreme high and low Birth Weight EBV sires;
- Delivers positive emphasis for Milk and Scrotal Size;
- Applies a slight negative emphasis on high Mature Cow Weight while strongly positively emphasising Carcase Weight; whilst also
- Providing a high selection response for Marble Score.