Honorary Life Membership to Industry Pioneer Peter Gilmour

Australian Wagyu Association Awards Honorary Life Membership to Industry Pioneer Peter Gilmour

The Australian Wagyu Association (AWA) is proud to announce that Peter Gilmour of Irongate Wagyu has been awarded Honorary Life Membership, recognising his exceptional, long-term contribution to the Association and to the advancement of the Wagyu breed in Australia.

Honorary Life Membership is the highest honour conferred by the AWA. It acknowledges an individual whose leadership, vision and sustained commitment have delivered significant benefit to the Association, its members and the broader Wagyu industry. Recipients must be nominated by the Board and endorsed by a two-thirds majority of members at a general meeting.

Peter Gilmour established Irongate Wagyu over 20 years ago with 40 cows and a single bull, at a time when only one other Wagyu breeder operated in Western Australia. Through pioneering determination, traditional breeding skill and early adoption of advanced reproductive technologies, he expanded Irongate into a herd of more than 1,500 fullblood Wagyu. Today, Irongate is recognised as one of Australia’s leading herds for genetic progress, data completeness and production performance.

Peter has also been a prominent advocate for the Wagyu breed across Western Australia, representing both the industry and the AWA at WALFA and ALFA events, field days and producer workshops. His early and ongoing efforts were crucial in establishing the region’s strong Wagyu presence.

Peter served on the AWA Board from 2013 to 2019, including terms as Senior Vice President (2015) and President (2016–2018), and as Chair of the Corporate Affairs Committee. His leadership coincided with significant industry events and increased national scrutiny of Wagyu branding and standards and vital to establishing the credentials and integrity on which the industry stands today.

Peter championed enhanced professionalism, transparency and governance across the AWA and industry. His corporate and legal insight helped position the Association to navigate complex issues with clarity and integrity, strengthening the AWA’s reputation and long-term capability.

Peter was steadfast in supporting reforms that improved member value and ensured the successful advancement of initiatives that have since become central to the AWA’s modern operations.

A key part of Peter’s legacy was his role in shifting the AWA from a registry-focused body to a forward-looking breed development organisation. He promoted the concept of the AWA as a “profit-for-purpose” not-for-profit organisation, emphasising that revenue should be reinvested to support innovation, genetic improvement and enhanced services for the benefit of all members.

Working with then Genetic Improvement Committee Chair Peter Krause, Peter oversaw the introduction of the Crossbred Wagyu Test, the AWA’s first genomic product, which laid the groundwork for today’s data-driven approach to breed advancement.

Peter was a strong advocate for scientific rigour in genetic evaluation and played a central role in the AWA’s transition to SingleStep BREEDPLAN in 2018. This significant project, supported by the Wagyu Collaborative Genetic Research Project and key contributors including Peter Krause and former President Chantal Winter, established a world-class genetic analysis platform now pivotal to the Association’s history.

A crucial component of this transition was the clarification of member data ownership, a principal Peter strongly supported. Under the framework he helped establish, members retain ownership of their data while providing the AWA with a perpetual licence for genetic analysis and industry development. This approach has positioned the AWA as a global leader in data integrity and genetic evaluation.

Peter also supported the development of AWA-managed DNA databases and multi-provider DNA services, strengthening competition, service quality and the Association’s international standing in DNA-enabled cattle information services.

Irongate Wagyu was an early and comprehensive adopter of genomic SNP testing and full performance recording. The herd became the largest 5-star BREEDPLAN Completeness of Recording herd in the country and consistently contributed extensive phenotype and genotype data to support national genetic progress.

Irongate was also the largest contributor herd to the first two cohorts of the AWA Progeny Test Program (AWA-PTP), forming a critical foundation for the program’s establishment and long-term success.

Peter Gilmour’s dedication to the AWA and the Wagyu breed has helped shape the modern industry. His contributions as a Board leader, industry advocate, genetic improvement champion and data governance pioneer continue to guide the Association’s progress.

As the industry moves forward, it does so “standing on the shoulders of giants.” Peter is undoubtedly one of those giants, a driving force behind the systems, trust and genetic advancement that underpin Wagyu’s success in Australia.

AWA Board President Laird Morgan said, “Peter’s contribution to the Australian Wagyu Association cannot be overstated. His leadership, foresight and commitment to integrity have shaped the AWA into the strong, progressive organisation it is today. Many of the systems and standards our members rely on were built on foundations that Peter helped lay. We are proud to recognise his extraordinary service with Honorary Life Membership.”

Pictured: AWA President, Laid Morgan, Peter Gilmour and AWA CEO Matt McDonagh

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.