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Important AWA Register Updates

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Important AWA Register Updates

In 2024 the AWA amended registers and their definitions in the bylaws to reflect the distinct Wagyu breeds more accurately.

Due to programming constraints, these have not yet been implemented for animals registered within the ABRI ILR2 system. However, you will notice that animals within Helical are now reflecting the new register structure. As we progress developments within Helical and begin to complete all registrations through the Helical database, we will only be assigning animals to the new registers as listed in the bylaws.

The old registers (Currently still reflected in the ABRI ILR2 registration database and public database) are as per below:

  • Herdbook register:  The breeding register for all Fullblood and Purebred animals which have successfully verified to a registered sire and registered dam.

  • Content register: The breeding register for Wagyu influenced animals which are not eligible for Herdbook registration. Animals are eligible for content registration based on parent verification results, or from results obtained from a Content Wagyu Test (CWT).

  • Slaughter unregistered: Animals must be sire and or/dam verified and are to be used for slaughter purposes only. As such, no progeny of animals recorded as Slaughter unregistered are eligible for registration.

The new registers as listed in the bylaws and reflected in Helical are:

  • Japanese Black: The breeding register for all Japanese Black wagyu animals.  This includes AuWA tested and registered animals as well as Japanese Black animals registered with a Recognised Wagyu Registry Organisation. Animals in the Japanese black register can be registered as Fullblood and Purebred, as well as grades 0 through to 4, with a requirement that all Fullblood, purebred, grade 4 and 3 Japanese black animals must be Black in colour.

  • Akaushi: The breeding register for all Akaushi animals. This includes AuWA tested and registered animals as well as Akaushi animals registered with a Recognised Wagyu Registry Organisation. Animals in the Akaushi register can be registered as Fullblood and Purebred, as well as grades 0 through to 4, with a requirement that all Fullblood, purebred, grade 4 and 3 Akaushi animals must be red in colour.

  • Composite Cross: The breeding register for animals that have pedigree influence from both Japanese Black and Akaushi animals. As Japanese Black and Akaushi are regarded as two distinct breeds, and as such, progeny from black animals mated to red animals or vice versa are to be registered as Composite Cross animals to give recognition that they result from the breeding of separate lines of cattle. The coat colour of Composite cross animals should be Red or black, unless the animal has had a coat colour DNA test to validate the dilution gene.

  • Slaughter Register: The non-breeding register to register animals in for the purpose of data collection and recording. To be eligible for slaughter registration, animals must have DNA testing and verify to any parents nominated at time of registration.  Animals in the slaughter registry are for commercial use only and are not to be used for breeding purposes. As such, no progeny of slaughter unregistered animals is eligible for registration.

  • Animals registered in these Registers are recorded based on their DNA parentage verification or as registered with recognised Wagyu Registry Organisations.  These include the  American Akaushi Association, American Wagyu Association and the Japanese Wagyu Registry – Zenwa.  Animals recorded from recognised Breed Registry Organisations are denoted with the letters PED at the start of their unique animals identifier, denoting that they are Pedigree Animals.  The unique Animal ID from the source Wagyu Registry Organisation follows the letters PED in the Animal Identifier.

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.

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