March 2025 Board Report | Australian Wagyu Association

The AWA Board has met in late February for review of the AWA half yearly (July to December 2024) performance against the 2023-2024 Operational Plan, assess statutory items and consider key items as follows:

The meeting reviewed joint agreement opportunities with other international Wagyu organisations to assist streamlining business and registration processes in different countries and expand AWA’s global genetic database to capture genetic diversity across our limited genetic resource.
The meeting reviewed progress and timelines for completion of AWA’s databases through partnership with the Helical Company. Significant advances have been made to improve AWA’s member services towards single touch DNA testing through to registration and display and access to data for AWA members.
AWA will conduct regional member updates along with providing online tutorials and webinars later in 2025 to assist members with familiarisation and training on AWA’s helical database.
Review of AWA’s genetic analysis provision has been ongoing since AWA’s call for expressions of interest from genetic services providers in 2022. The Board reviewed progress to date and the next phases of its genetic projects.
The meeting reviewed a project to increase genetic linkage of Northern Wagyu crossbred and high content herds to AWA genomic productivity, quality and efficiency tools. Research applications are being developed to undertake a large project to enable improved linkages between Northern extensive production systems and AWA’s core genetic tools and database.
Company operational and financial performance against KPIs for the first half FY2025 was reviewed, with progress to date against key work areas reviewed, noting the performance recording, DNA testing, animal registrations and membership activity against targets.
The meeting approved the admission to 55 new applications for membership including 48 new Full members and 7 new Associate members.

Final word from the office

On behalf of our wonderful team of dedicated and passionate staff, I thank you for working with us throughout 2024 and into 2025. I look forward to seeing many of you at the WagyuEdge’25Conference and providing updates to you on AWA activities and new projects.

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.