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Wagyu Carcase Royale

Providing Wagyu producers with a dedicated platform to benchmark and celebrate performance.

Wagyu Carcase Royale

The Australian Wagyu Association is launching the inaugural Wagyu Carcase Royale, a groundbreaking industry competition designed to provide Wagyu producers with a dedicated platform to benchmark and celebrate performance, access valuable carcase data, and showcase the very best in Wagyu genetics and production.

Bringing together a fully integrated supply chain, independent analysis, industry-leading expertise and substantial prize money, the Wagyu Carcase Royale is set to become one of the most prestigious events on the Australian Wagyu calendar.

Submit your Expression of interest

The AWA is calling for expressions of interest from members interested in entering Wagyu steers in the inaugural Wagyu Carcase Royale

SUBMIT AN EOI

Why enter the wagyu Carcase Royale?

Participating in this inaugural event offers significant value for your operation, including: 

  • Comprehensive Carcase Data: Receive highly detailed carcase feedback to help you make informed genetic and management decisions. 
  • Industry Recognition: Compete for prestigious inaugural awards and establish your brand among the industry’s elite. 
  • Benchmarking Opportunities: Compare your results against your peers and national standards to see where your herd excels. 
  • Networking & Collaboration: Connect with fellow producers, processors, and industry experts. 

Key Event Dates

Entries Open: 27 July 2026

Entries Close: 10 August 2026

Delivery to Lillyvale Feedlot: 11 October 2026

Induction Period: 21 Days

Feedlot Entry: 1 November 2026

Days on Feed: 450–500 Days

Wagyu Royale Field Day: November 2027

Results Announced: WagyuEdge’28 Conference

Competition Classes

Class 1 – Fullblood Wagyu Steers

All entries must:

  • Be Herdbook or Slaughter registered
  • Weigh between 350–450kg
  • Provide a DNA sample for AWA genomic testing and parent verification

Class 2 – Purebred Wagyu Steers

All entries must:

  • Be by a Herdbook registered sire
  • Weigh between 350–450kg
  • Provide a DNA sample for AWA genomic testing, Wagyu Content Testing and parent verification
  • Achieve 93% or greater Wagyu content

To improve operational efficiency and ensure consistent adjudication:

  • All Fullblood entries will be processed on a designated single kill day.
  • All Purebred entries will be processed on a separate designated kill day.

Competition Structure

The competition model has been carefully designed to ensure consistency, fairness and commercial relevance.

All cattle entered into the competition will:

  • Be managed within the Sandalwood supply chain
  • Complete a 21-day induction period
  • Undergo 450–500 days on custom-feeding at Lillyvale Feedlot
  • Be slaughtered at John Dee on the same day for each comptetion category

Entries will be submitted as pens of seven steers, with the top five animals, based on their Wagyu Carcase Royale values, which will be calculated by AbacusBio using industry agreed economic parameters.

As part of the commercial supply chain model, Sandalwood will purchase all animals as feeder cattle prior to feedlot entry and retain ownership of the cattle through to completion of the competition.

Independent Analysis by AbacusBio

To strengthen the credibility and integrity of the competition, AbacusBio has been appointed as the independent third-party analyst responsible for validating, analysing and determining competition results.

AbacusBio is a global agricultural science and technology consulting company with a team of 55 specialists across Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Europe and North America.

AbacusBio will work closely with representatives from some of Australia’s major Wagyu supply chains. This collaborative approach will ensure the methodology reflects the commercial realities and economics of contemporary Fullblood and Purebred Wagyu supply chains.

Using phenotypic carcase data for economically important traits, the value of Fullblood and Purebred Wagyu will be calculated using AbacusBio’s bioeconomic modelling methodology.  This will provide an objective basis for ranking competition entries within their respective categories according to their estimated value within current market conditions.

This approach ensures:

  • Transparent and unbiased competition outcomes
  • Independent expert validation
  • Strong industry confidence in results
  • Alignment with best-practice scientific methodology

Significant Prize Pool on Offer

Both the Fullblood and Purebred classes will compete for substantial cash prizes*.

Major Awards:

  • 1st Place – $100,000
  • 2nd Place – $30,000
  • 3rd Place – $20,000

Special Award Categories:

  • Highest Marble Score Individual – $5,000
  • Highest Value Individual Loin (MS × EMA) – $5,000
  • Highest Average Daily Gain Pen (adjusted for intake weight) – $2,500
  • Heaviest Carcase (adjusted for intake weight) – $2,500

*Prize money is based on 210 entries per class. Total prize pool values may vary according to actual entry numbers.

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 information contained within the AWA database and parameters derived from it.
  • WBVs are estimates of genetic potential of individual animals and may change with addition of new data or with new parameters.
  • WBVs are genetic merit estimates only 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

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