AWA 2019 Board announced | Australian Wagyu Association

The Australian Wagyu Association Annual General Meeting was held 25 November 2019 and heralds in the release of the AWA Strategic Plan 2020-2025 which sets the guidelines for business operations for the Board and staff to support, promote and advance the production of Wagyu.

To lead us through the initial phasing-in of the Strategic Plan in 2020, the AWA is delighted to announce our 13th President, Mike Buchanan, effective as of the 26th of November 2019.
The Office Bearers of the AWA Board for the 2019-20 period are:

President Mike Buchanan

Senior Vice President John Spreadborough

Junior Vice President Sharon Oates

Treasurer Charles Perry

Newly appointed Board Directors are Dean Pollard and Gina Lincoln and re-elected Board Director John Spreadborough.

Mike Buchanan and his wife Maggie own Ginjo Wagyu, a fullblood seedstock and feeder operation which commenced in 1998, on properties in the Tea Gardens and Gloucester areas of the NSW Mid North Coast. Joining up to 200 FB cows in good years the aim is to replicate leading Japanese sires and target early growth, carcase weight, marbling and maternal traits. Ginjo genetics and live exports have achieved global success since 2008. Mike has been on the AWA Board since 2014.

“In 2020 my AWA focus will be on the continuing improvement of our suite of EBVs, Indexes and other selection tools. Plus a new strategic emphasis on measuring and maintaining genetic diversity in the Australian Japanese Black herd”, Mike said.

Gina Lincoln is a well-respected consultant to the beef industry. Gina has extensive experience in feedlot management and Fullblood herds, having spent 12 years as general manager of Peechelba Beef Feedlot and seven years with Blackmore Wagyu overseeing the breeding, feeding and operations of the company.

Gina has extensive Board experience having served with the Australian Lotfeeders Association, Pfizer Animal Health Board and is the current Southern Campdraft President. Her hands-on experience with Wagyu will be a welcome addition to the AWA Board.

Dean Pollard is synonymous with Sahara Park Wagyu, breeding Fullblood genetics for the past five years and a member of the AWA since 2012. A keen advocate for BREEDPLAN, Dean is keen to improve the overall Wagyu genetics for the Australian industry.

Based in central Queensland as a mining and agricultural company director, Dean will bring business acumen and youthful energy, passion and commitment to the Wagyu industry as a Director on the AWA Board.

Returning Board Directors:
Peter Cabassi

Sharon Oates

Lorna Tomkinson

Chantal Winter

The Board and Association would like to extend our appreciation for the tireless work of outgoing Board Directors, Peter Krause and Peter Gilmour.

Peter Krause of Sunnyside Wagyu, was elected to the Board in October 2014 and was Chair of the Genetic Improvement Committee from 2015 -2019 overseeing the implementation of Single-Step Wagyu BREEDPLAN and BreedObject $Indexes. These two initiatives have resulted in 60,000 animals now being genotyped with 50K genomics and delivered improvements in EBV accuracy and genetic gain for members.

Peter Gilmour of Irongate Wagyu, served as President for the Board between 2015-2018 and was elected to the Board in 2005. Under Peter’s tenure and guidance as President, the Association adopted Single-Step BREEDPLAN, the transition to SNP DNA testing and the commercial introduction of the MIJ objective carcase cameras. Peter drove the implementation of corporate governance standards and process improvements as the company grew significantly during that period. Peter provided a high level of commercial diplomacy and professional leadership.

The Australian Wagyu Association bids farewell to Peter Krause and Peter Gilmour and looks forward to working with Dean and Gina.

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.