AWA new President and Board for 2018-19

The Australian Wagyu Association Annual General Meeting was held Wednesday 31^st October 2018, with the first meeting of the new AWA Board held Thursday 1^st of November.

In a first for the Association in its 30-year history, the first woman to hold the position of President of the AWA has been decided.

The AWA is delighted to announce our 12th President, Mrs Chantal Winter, effective as of the 1^st of November 2018.

The Office Bearers of the AWA Board for the 2018-19 period are:

President Chantal Winter
Senior Vice President Mike Buchanan
Junior Vice President Selwyn Maller
Treasurer Charles Perry

Newly appointed Board Member Sharon Oates

Returning Board Members:
Peter Cabassi
Peter Gilmour
Peter Krause
John Spreadborough
Lorna Tomkinson

Both Lorna Tomkinson and Chantal Winter were both re-appointed to the AWA Board following the 2018 Board election process.

Chantal, with her husband Anthony are the managers of Macquarie Wagyu, located on the Southern Downs region of Queensland south-west of Toowoomba. A specialist in long-feed feedlot, the couple have been managing the property for more than 10 years. The property joins around 700 fullblood females annually. Previously a cattle care auditor, Chantal is well versed in genetics, breeding, carcase outcomes and care of Wagyu cattle and has served on the AWA Board for more than five years.

“It is an exciting time to be part of the Wagyu industry,” said Chantal. “As we move forward I want to ensure that our members have access to learn and utilise Wagyu breeding tools so that we can see an overall improvement in Wagyu genetics to give our customers the very best eating experience.”

Retiring from the Board is Joanne Christiansen. The matriarch of Pinnacle Wagyu, Joanne is a breeder of Wagyu and Stock Horses in Roma, Queensland, established in 1998 with her late husband Peter. Joanne has served on the Board for a number of years providing the Association with a great deal of knowledge and advice for the Wagyu industry. We would like to extend to Joanne our deepest thanks for her services to the industry and the Association.

Sharon Oates was appointed to the AWA Board through the 2018 Board election process. Sharon is well known in Wagyu circles for her work with Oasis Collection Centre, a business that provides embryo collection services, specialising in Wagyu. With a wealth of experience in breeding, export and processing, Sharon is keen to bring her knowledge to the Board to assist with the improvement of the breed for all Wagyu members.

Farewell to an outstanding President

The 2018 AGM gave members an opportunity to thank the 11^th President of the AWA, Mr Peter Gilmour who has represented the Board in this capacity for the past three years. In that time, Peter has overseen the introduction of many strategic platforms including BreedObject $Indexes, BREEDPLAN Single-Step, the transition from MiP to SNP and the commissioning of the MIJ-30 carcase assessment camera. Peter continues on the AWA Board as a Director for the 2018-19 year.

“It has been a pleasure to work with Peter during his tenure as President,” said Dr Matt McDonagh, AWA CEO. “His business insights and leadership have served the Australian Wagyu Association well to take us through a busy time in terms of strategic planning, member growth and development of Wagyu breeding tools.

“We are fortunate to have Peter remain on the Board to continue with that level of wisdom and to assist Chantal with her transition to President.”

IMPORTANT NOTICE - Terms & Conditions

It is a condition of use of this database that you accept these terms and conditions.

It is important that you appreciate when accessing the Australian Wagyu Association Limited (AWA) database (which may be hosted on an external website) that the information contained on the AWA database, including but not limited to pedigree, DNA information, Wagyu Breeding Values (WBVs) and Index values (together called Database Information), is based on data supplied by AWA members and/or third parties. 

Whilst sincere effort is made to ensure the Database Information is accurate and complete, to the extent permitted by law, AWA, its officers and employees, shall not be responsible for its use or interpretation, and you use the Database Information at your own risk. Please be aware of the following limitations of the Database Information.

Regarding WBVs and Index values, it is important to appreciate, and you need to be aware that: 

WBVs are derived using genetic evaluation technology developed for the AWA, using the information contained within the AWA database. 
WBVs are estimates of genetic potential of individual animals and may not reflect the raw animal phenotype. 
WBVs can only be directly compared to other WBVs calculated in the same AWA genetic analysis.

Regarding pedigree and DNA testing results submitted to the AWA, it is 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 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 set out details regarding the definition of a Pedigree Recorded Animal. 
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 genetic issues or inaccuracies which were previously not detectable are now able to be detected by current testing technology (i.e. if the animal was tested again with current 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 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.

Regarding DNA testing and genetic condition results submitted to the AWA, it is important to appreciate, and you need to be aware that: 

As genetic testing results are provided by independent DNA testing laboratories at the request of AWA members, AWA relies solely on the accuracy of the reporting of genetic testing as completed by the laboratories. 
AWA uses GeneProb software to calculate the likelihood of pedigree animals being a carrier of genetic conditions. This likelihood is an estimate based on the available genetic testing results.

If you consider that you do not understand or appreciate the nature and/or implications of the data provided on this website or the WBVs of a particular animal, then AWA strongly recommends that you seek expert advice.  Note there is substantial technical information and articles on the Wagyu website to assist our members.

AWA’s liability for any loss or damage, consequential or otherwise, suffered or incurred by you or your related business, arising directly or indirectly from your use of Database Information, to the extent permitted by law, is limited to AWA providing you with a refund for the fees paid for the service (if any), or AWA re-performing the service, where possible, at the election of AWA.

AWA administers this database in good faith to support AWA members and the industry. AWA does not represent or warrant that the animals recorded in this database, or animals breed from them, will achieve any particular genetic or phenotype performance.

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