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Why Registering Females in the Breeding Registers Matters

Knowledge Centre

Why Registering Females in the Breeding Registers Matters

When managing a breeding program, the correct registration of your animals is not just a technical detail, it’s a strategic decision with long-term impacts.

For females, it is especially important to register them in the a Breeding Register (Japanese black, Akaushi and Composite Cross, previously known as the Herdbook and Content registers) rather than the Slaughter (non-breeding) Register.

It is important to note that the Slaughter Register is not designed for breeding animals. It exists for animals that are culled or destined for processing and has been set up without a fee to encourage producers to return carcase data, for a more accurate analysis. When a female is entered into the Slaughter Register, it signals she is not intended for reproduction and as a result, progeny from slaughter-registered females cannot be registered in either a breeding or non-breeding register.

We assume that the majority of your females will be retained for breeding, therefore if you choose to breed from a slaughter-registered female, you will be required to upgrade her to a breeding register status before her progeny can be registered—incurring an additional fee on top of the standard registration cost. What may appear to be a financial shortcut initially can actually become a more expensive option over time. Registering females correctly from the start is both more cost-effective and efficient.

Registering females in the slaughter register also has implications when selling. Buyers expecting to purchase the females for breeding will face issues of the progeny being ineligible to be registered.

In contrast, bulls are handled differently. Since most are castrated and sold as feeders, they can be initially placed in the Slaughter Register without an upgrade fee (provided they are upgraded before 12 months of age). However, this exception does not apply to females.

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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