Mr Matias Suarez Appointed as Chief Operating Officer

It is my sincere pleasure to announce to you that Mr Matias Suarez will commence as the Chief Operating Officer of the Australian Wagyu Association, starting on 10 March 2025.

It is with great pride in the AWA that I report to you that we have been successful in securing such a high performing individual to the AWA team. It is very pleasing to see that our organisation continues to attract exceptional individuals who strive to make an impact for the benefit of our Wagyu Members.

Many of you will know Matias from previous roles, most recently as the Manager of Breeding and Genetics with Australian Agricultural Company between 2019 and the end of 2024. In this role, Matias oversaw the genetics team and delivery of breeding program services and operations across multiple sites for 5 years at AACo.

Prior to AACo, Matias has an extensive background of experience and capability including undergraduate Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Masters in Agriculture, followed by a post-graduate Masters in Science by research in Quantitative Genetics with the University of New England and AGBU.

In addition to Matias’s deep industry experience with Wagyu and research expertise in quantitative genetics, Matias has also worked over a 5-year period with ABRI. Here he was employed as a Beef Geneticist, responsible for client operations within ABRI across several breeds, including consultancies with Australian and International clients, running BREEDPLAN analysis, diagnostic reports and results provision.

Matias has also worked as Technical Services Manager at Zoetis, one of AWA’s genetic service providers, to provide technical expertise, training and support for the Zoetis (formerly Pfizer) genomics technology products. In this role, Matias supported Zoetis’s global R&D product development group and developed educational platforms for customers along with delivering genetic services consultancies for clients.

In Matias’s role as Chief Operating Officer (COO) with the Australian Wagyu Association, Matias will be applying his technical knowledge of quantitative genetics and databasing, with his direct Wagyu and genomic industry experience. His role as COO recognises the growth in the scale and impact of AWA’s research, databasing, innovation and membership activities. Reporting to the CEO and working directly with the AWA Chief Financial Officer, AWA is pleased to provide executive level support across all areas of business for its Members.

Although I am sure that many of you will be familiar with Matias through his past roles directly related to the Wagyu Sector, I look forward to introducing many of you to Matias in the coming weeks and months. Matias is extremely capable and looks forward to continuing to deliver services for Members, ensuring our databasing and analysis systems remain world-leading, and furthering our R&D and innovations pipeline to provide the next generation of value to our Members.

Sincerely,

Dr Matt McDonagh

Company Secretary/CEO

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.