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MateSel: Driving Genetic Progress in Wagyu Breeding

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MateSel: Driving Genetic Progress in Wagyu Breeding

The advancement of Wagyu genetics depends on breeding strategies that balance rapid genetic gain with long-term diversity and sustainability. For breeders aiming to strengthen traits such as marbling, fertility, and growth, MateSel provides a powerful tool to design data-driven, customised breeding programs.

What is MateSel?

MateSel is a software package developed by Professor Brian and Sandy Kinghorn from the University of New England in Armidale, NSW, to optimise selection and mating decisions in a breeding program. At its core, it uses Optimal Contributions Selection (OCS), a method that ensures maximum genetic progress while controlling inbreeding and maintaining long term herd diversity.

Already widely adopted across industries such as beef, sheep, dairy, pigs, aquaculture, forestry, and crops, MateSel is also a key driver of genetic progress in Wagyu breeding.

How Does MateSel Work?

MateSel combines genetic evaluations (such as EBVs and genomic data) with breeder-specified constraints to generate a ranked set of matings. Its flexibility means it can accommodate both technical goals and on-farm logistics. Key capabilities include:

  • Managing genetic defects by avoiding carrier-to-carrier matings.
  • Managing trait distributions with Tactical Desired Gains, ensuring balanced progress across carcase, fertility, and growth traits.
  • Integrating reproductive technologies such as Artificial Insemination (AI), In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), and Embryo Transfer (ET).
  • Handling practical constraints like animal movement, semen/embryo availability, joining numbers, and patterns of mating.
  • Using genomic information to increase accuracy in both selection and mating allocations.

By modelling thousands of possible combinations, MateSel provides a mating plan that reflects both the breeder’s long-term objectives and short-term operational needs.

 

The software creates a frontier, which reflects the emphases on $Index (e.g BFI) v Diversity (i.e Coancestry).

 

Restrictions can be imposed on different traits (EBVs) (e.g in crease mean marble score of progeny).

 

Once the run is completed, a list of matings with the progeny $Index and progeny inbreeding is provided.

 

Benefits for Wagyu Breeding

Wagyu breeders face unique challenges, the breed’s global reputation depends on exceptional marbling and meat quality, while genetic diversity must be carefully preserved due to reliance on a relatively narrow gene pool. MateSel addresses these challenges by:

  • Maximising genetic gain in high-value traits such as marbling, carcase weight, and eating quality.
  • Maintaining genetic diversity, reducing the risk of inbreeding depression in future generations.
  • Allowing tactical breeding decisions, such as increasing fertility while maintaining carcase quality.
  • Integrating seamlessly with genomic testing and BREEDPLAN EBVs, delivering evidence-based recommendations.

The Future of Wagyu Genetic Improvement

As genomic testing expands and EBVs become more powerful, MateSel will continue to underpin the Wagyu industry’s progress. By combining Optimal Contributions Selection with practical on-farm constraints, the software ensures that breeding decisions today will secure both profitability and genetic sustainability for the future.

To find out more about how MateSel can work for your Wagyu herd, contact AWA MSO Team E: [email protected]

 

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.

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