November 2025 Board Report | Australian Wagyu Association

The AWA Board met 26 November 2025 in Brisbane Queensland with the following items considered:

The AWA Board undertook nominations and selection of Directors for positions on the AWA Board and sub committees, with the following Director appointments:
President and Chair of the AWA Board: Laird Morgan
Senior Vice President: Jeremy Cooper
Junior Vice President: Robyn Elphick
Treasurer: Nathan RobertsChair of Corporate Affairs Committee: Robyn Elphick
Chair of Genetic Improvement Committee: Adam Withers
Chair of Conference and Competitions Committee: Jeremy Cooper
Chair of Audit and Finance Committee: Nathan Roberts

Damien Curr and Melinee Leather were welcomed to the Board, along with returning Directors Steve Gibbons and Hamish McIntyre.

1. The meeting reviewed operational performance of the AWA against targets for the end of the first quarter FY2026, noting satisfactory progress against all KPIs and financial targets. Implementation of new human resources and financial reporting systems to deliver improved efficiency within the AWA office and for reporting to the Board was reviewed by the meeting.

1. The meeting undertook a comprehensive review of AWA’s corporate risk register and control plan, noting actions in place to address high risk activities and further controls. The meeting recommended commencement of a new cyber-risk review, to further increase AWA’s preparedness and limit risks to new threats since AWA’s prior assessment.

1. Progress with development of a genetic test for a disorder in the Annexin A10 gene was reviewed. Laboratories have been provided with Annexin A10 positive and negative samples to allow validation of tests for this mutation. The Annexin A10 mutation impacts embryo survival, even in carrier animals. Launch of this test to AWA members is expected immediately upon test sample validation by each laboratory. This test cannot be read on a genomic DNA chip and must be conducted as an add-on or stand-alone test. AWA will be seeking to profile key high-prevalence sires and may be contacting members to ask their assistance in allowing the testing of some of their animals to support GeneProb assignment of carrier status through pedigrees.

1. Identification of a gene marker for Hepatocyte Fibrinogen Storage Disorder (HFSD) was reviewed, noting its presence on the Weatherbys 85K chip. The HFSD condition results in the accumulation of the Fibrinogen protein in liver cells, disrupting their normal metabolic processes and leading to poor liver function, ill-thrift and a sickly phenotype condition. Upon receipt of further population information on this disorder, the Board have approved release of this test to the AWA membership.

1. A proposal for AWA to review its Bylaws regarding cloning and the potential use of gene technologies such as gene editing was approved by the Board. The AWA will commence investigation of the regulatory parameters concerning cloned and gene edited animals, noting the specific regulations as applied in Australia. Currently, cloned and gene edited animals are not allowed to be registered under AWA Bylaws.

1. The WagyuEdge’26 program and budget was finalised and approved by the meeting, noting the 3-day conference program and a 4-day post-conference tour through key Southern Queensland sites.

It is a requirement that the AWA Board approve all new membership applications to the Association. The Board approved 47 new applications for membership between 08 August 2025 to 18 November 2025.

On behalf of the AWA Board, it is my pleasure to provide this report to you.

Sincerely,

Matt McDonagh
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