Vale Simon Coates | Australian Wagyu Association

New Scholarship to Honour a Pioneer and Leader for Australian Wagyu

It is with deep sadness that the Association relays the news of the passing of Dr Simon Coates, of Sumo Wagyu.

First and foremost, Simon was a family man and the Association passes its deepest condolences to the family. The Australian Wagyu industry says goodbye to a well-respected pioneer. He will forever be recognised as a key figure in establishing the global Wagyu industry outside of Japan.

The co-founder and owner of Sumo Wagyu, Simon was a qualified veterinarian of more than 40 years’ experience, with a vast knowledge of Wagyu genetics and breeding. The Sumo herd is one of the first five AWA memberships that were recorded in 1994 and has been a market leader in Fullblood genetics since 1997.

As one of the early pioneers, Simon’s efforts were pivotal in the export of genetics to Australia. Simon was involved extensively with the importation of Wagyu genetics in the early 1990s. This work enabled establishment of the fledgling F1 trade for live cattle exports to Japan and the subsequent development of the Fullblood breeding industry. It was Simon’s unique blend of character, scientific knowledge and passion for Wagyu that opened up the breed as an opportunity for many Australian and International breeders.

Simon was well known for his extensive field day activities, workshops and sales to promote Wagyu to Australian breeders. He was a wonderful supporter of Wagyu and a wealth of knowledge to all.

Simon’s efforts during the formative years of the Australian Wagyu Association are applauded by his peers. He is noted as being appointed as a councillor to the Association in 1993 and was the second president of the AWA between 1994-1997.

Simon was a champion of genetic evaluation and performance recording to support breeding decisions. He is world-famous in Wagyu circles for the development of the Sumo herd and for enabling the progress of the breed through his breeding and marketing of outstanding genetics.

As a measure of the scale of Simon’s impact on the global Wagyu community, within the AWA’s registers, Simon has registered more than 5,600 individuals, including 1,494 Fullblood dams and 173 Fullblood sires that have been used to breed more than 21,000 progeny in AWA member herds.

Simon was recognised in 2018 as an Honorary Life Member with the Australian Wagyu Association. Simon is noted by past presidents as a wonderful bloke, a thorough gentleman in business and a great support to the industry worldwide, earning enormous respect personally and through his business, Sumo Cattle Co.

In honouring Simon’s pivotal role in the development of the Australian Wagyu industry, the Association is proud to announce as part of the Wagyu Fellowship Program, the creation of:

The Dr Simon Coates Scholarship for Veterinary and Reproductive Science

The ongoing scholarship will be available to students who are studying veterinary science or researching reproduction and breeding related to Wagyu.

Through the Dr Simon Coates Scholarship for Veterinary and Reproductive Science, we can continue to recognise the great contributions of one of our founding members and honour his passion for the advancement of Wagyu.

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:

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.