From EBVs to WBVs: A New Era | Australian Wagyu Association

The Wagyu industry has always been at the forefront of innovation. As demand grows domestically and globally for premium Wagyu beef, so too does the need for more precise and effective genetic tools.

In 2026, the Australian Wagyu Association (AWA) is taking a major step forward by transitioning from the well-known BREEDPLAN Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) to a new, Wagyu-tailored system: Wagyu Breeding Values (WBVs).

This evolution represents far more than a change in terminology, it is a fundamental upgrade in how Wagyu genetics are understood, compared, and utilised to drive profitability and sustainability for breeders and the entire Wagyu value chain.

Why Change Was Needed

BREEDPLAN has served the AWA and Australian beef industry for decades, providing a powerful framework for analysing pedigree, performance, and genomic data. However, Wagyu has always been a unique breed, using genomics as a backbone to their herdbook, distinctive traits, with specialised production systems, and a different economic value structure compared to other beef breeds.

Several limitations became increasingly clear:

Better use of Crossbred data, with thousands of F1 to F3 carcase records being added to AWA’s database each year, this required a more inclusive and advanced model that was better able to utilise the value of crossbred data.

New and updated traits, with the amount of new data that AWA is acquiring each year, with Wagyu specific camera and meat quality traits, the Wagyu breed needs a more agile and flexible system to adapt to its members’ needs in a timely manner.

Rapid increases in genomic testing within the Wagyu industry demanded a system better able to harness high-density SNP data from animals with different levels of Wagyu content that all need to be used within AWA’s genetic evaluation.

Higher frequency and streamlined delivery of results, members are demanding fast turnaround times from data submission to results being generated and published.

Most importantly, Wagyu-specific trait definitions and indexes were needed to reflect the unique attributes of Wagyu and the realities of fullblood, purebred and crossbred Wagyu production systems.

WBVs were developed in response to these needs following a 4-year program of system renewal to create AWA’s future operational platform.

What Are WBVs?

Wagyu Breeding Values (WBVs) are AWA’s new genetic evaluation outputs, designed specifically for animals in the Wagyu herdbook and for Wagyu commercial production systems. They are developed in-house with state-of-the-art software by a team of experienced geneticists, using Wagyu data and parameters, Wagyu-specific models, and economic weights tailored for the premium beef supply chain.

Key features include:

A Wagyu specific genetic evaluation

WBVs are generated from the largest Wagyu dataset in the world with half a million genotypes, and more than 50,000 carcase records. This allows:

More accurate predictions for high value carcase traits

Better modelling of breed-specific growth curves

Enhanced utilisation of high-density genomic data

Expanded and improved carcase trait modelling

Carcase traits, including Marbling Score, Marbling Fineness, Eye Muscle Area, Rib Fat, and Carcase Weight benefit from improved genetic parameters derived solely from Wagyu phenotypes run in a full multi-trait model.

Greater accuracy through genomics

WBVs incorporate genomic information more efficiently, utilizing genotypes from all animals with Wagyu content into the genetic evaluation. This means that all data generated from Crossbred animals can be utilized more effectively within the AWA genetic evaluation.

Updated selection indexes

Current indexes have been updated to accommodate WBVs.

Breeder Feeder Index

Self-Replacing Fullblood Index

Terminal F1 Index

These indexes will continue to link directly to profitability within the Wagyu supply chain.

What Stays the Same?

Although WBVs represent a major improvement, many familiar elements remain:

The scale and interpretation of values are still based on genetic differences between animals, not absolute trait measurements.

Accuracies, publication rules, and percentile tables remain important.

Raw data collection, dates, weights, carcase records continues unchanged.

Breeders will still be able to compare animals the same way as they did with EBVs. The difference is that these comparisons will be more meaningful for Wagyu animal than ever before.

What’s Different for Breeders?

The shift to WBVs brings several practical implications:

More meaningful variation

Because WBVs use Wagyu specific genetic parameters, the range of breeding values better reflects real-world performance differences within the breed.

Improved ranking of sires and dams

Animals known for strong marbling, maternal traits or balanced growth will be more accurately ranked based on this new Wagyu-specific evaluation and data.

Enhanced use of genomic testing

DNA-based prediction becomes more powerful and more valuable, giving breeders confidence earlier in an animal’s life.

New Traits

Feed efficiency traits can now be made available for breeders to use in their breeding decisions, carcase traits will be modelled in a more precise way making the WBVs a better tool for those intending to produce more profitable carcases.

AWA will also be switching the Marbling Fineness WBV to use the New Fineness Index calculation as generated by Meat Image Japan. The New Fineness Index does a much better job of capturing marbling fineness at modern high marbling levels. The trait range for Marbling Fineness is roughly between 1 and 10, so the WBV values for Marbling Fineness will be expressed as a proportion of this range.

Read the full article in the latest edition of the Wagyu Quarterly Magazine, Summer 2025-2026 CLICK HERE

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:

Animals whose registration identifiers start with PED are Pedigree Recorded Animals. What this means is that the details which Australia Wagyu Association Limited (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 sets out details regarding the definition of a Pedigree Recorded Animal.
Future events cannot be predicted accurately. AWA makes no statements, representations or warranties as to the accuracy or completeness of, and you should not rely on, any information contained in the registration details of this animal or their capability to achieve any purpose. AWA disclaims all liability (including without limitation, liability for negligence) for all claims, expenses, losses, damages and costs you may incur as a result of the information set out in the registration details of this animal for any reason being inaccurate or incomplete in any way or incapable of achieving any purpose.
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.