March 2025 Board Report | Australian Wagyu Association

The AWA Board has met in late February for review of the AWA half yearly (July to December 2024) performance against the 2023-2024 Operational Plan, assess statutory items and consider key items as follows:

The meeting reviewed joint agreement opportunities with other international Wagyu organisations to assist streamlining business and registration processes in different countries and expand AWA’s global genetic database to capture genetic diversity across our limited genetic resource.
The meeting reviewed progress and timelines for completion of AWA’s databases through partnership with the Helical Company. Significant advances have been made to improve AWA’s member services towards single touch DNA testing through to registration and display and access to data for AWA members.
AWA will conduct regional member updates along with providing online tutorials and webinars later in 2025 to assist members with familiarisation and training on AWA’s helical database.
Review of AWA’s genetic analysis provision has been ongoing since AWA’s call for expressions of interest from genetic services providers in 2022. The Board reviewed progress to date and the next phases of its genetic projects.
The meeting reviewed a project to increase genetic linkage of Northern Wagyu crossbred and high content herds to AWA genomic productivity, quality and efficiency tools. Research applications are being developed to undertake a large project to enable improved linkages between Northern extensive production systems and AWA’s core genetic tools and database.
Company operational and financial performance against KPIs for the first half FY2025 was reviewed, with progress to date against key work areas reviewed, noting the performance recording, DNA testing, animal registrations and membership activity against targets.
The meeting approved the admission to 55 new applications for membership including 48 new Full members and 7 new Associate members.

Final word from the office

On behalf of our wonderful team of dedicated and passionate staff, I thank you for working with us throughout 2024 and into 2025. I look forward to seeing many of you at the WagyuEdge’25Conference and providing updates to you on AWA activities and new projects.

Sincerely,

Dr Matt McDonagh
Company Secretary/CEO

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.

THIS DISCLAIMER HAS BEEN UPDATED AS OF 03/02/2026, PLEASE ENSURE YOU HAVE READ IT IN DETAIL