Australian Wagyu Update magazine is printed by Litho Art Pty Ltd. Materials used to produce the magazine have been selected to reflect our sensitivity towards the natural environment on which our industry relies. We only use eco-friendly inks made from vegetable oil or soybeans produced using sustainable farming methods and paper stock derived from sustainable forests managed to ensure their renewability for generations to come. We encourage you to recycle all paper based products after use. All content is subject to copyright and may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission from the publisher. Opinions expressed in The Australian Wagyu Update magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers. Acceptance of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of any product or service by the magazine or the association, nor support any claims by the advertisers. Every effort is made to ensure information contained in this magazine is correct at the time of publishing.
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Dear Members,
As this edition of the Wagyu Update goes to print we are once again in the middle of C OVID -19 lockdowns and multiple boarder closures and I can’t help but reflect on how lucky we were, that so many of us could physically attend the 2021 WagyuEdge Conference.
We were fortunate to have a diverse profile of outstanding global speakers who were able to share their knowledge and expertise with us using our online and in-person hybrid conference format.
We truly believe that our annual Conference is a marquee industry event, and to the 400 people who attended in person, and the 60 who joined us from across the globe, we thank you all for being part of it. I must also extend my thanks and congratulations to our CEO and all the AWA staff who delivered an outstanding event.
AWA PROGENY TEST PROGRAM
A highlight of the Conference was the formal launch of the AWA Progeny Test Program (PTP), which has since gained outstanding support and interest from our members. The PTP will be a core component of our industry development over the next 10 years and will drive genetic progress across the breed. The PTP will also enable the AWA to lead development of key new Wagyu traits including female reproduction, fatty acid profiles in meat, saleable meat yield and structural correctness.
COLLABORATIVE PROJECT WITH CSIRO AND NEOGEN
During the April board meeting, the Board approved a joint collaborative project with CSIRO and Neogen to develop commercial genomic tests for crossbred Wagyu. This project will have an instrumental impact in improving the profitability and sustainability of crossbred Wagyu production moving forward. We are excited to announce that this project is now underway.
MIJ-30 AUS-MEAT ACCREDITATION
AWA is proud to announce it was successful in its accreditation trial and application to AUS-MEAT for the approval of the MIJ-30
camera for AUS-MEAT marble score 0-9+, which is a significant step forward for the Wagyu Sector. This has been an outstanding effort by the AWA staff, working with Meat Image Japan and collaborating with processing sites to become the first and only objective grading technology to gain approval for AUS-MEAT 0-9+.
AMERICAN WAGYU ASSOCIATION
For more than 12 months, the AWA Board have responded to significant urging from our members to work with the American Wagyu Association to accept the Fullblood Australian Wagyu Association Herdbook and its parent verification results. The Australian Wagyu Association has sent formal requests via letter to the Board of the American Wagyu Association and their CEO. We have since received a response from the American Wagyu Association rejecting our requests. It is disappointing that we must report this outcome to our Australian and International members who seek this change. We will continue to work on this important matter, and do hope that we can report a more favorable outcome soon.
AWA FINANCIAL POSITION
The AWA financial position continues to track to budget, with slight but positive net profit outcome delivered at June 2021. It is reassuring that AWA has weathered the challenges of drought, market downturn and COVID-19 and is now in the position to strategically reinvest in the AWA-PTP with our members.
It is also important to note that we have not raised our member fees since 2017 with the aim to continue to provide valuable resources and industry advancement for our members at the same cost.
Charlie Perry AWA President
ceo update
Dr. MATTHEW McDONAGH
YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE
BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF WAGYU GENETIC IMPROVEMENT
Dear Members,
It has been a pleasure for the AWA team to engage with our members again at two large industry events this year, the 2021 WagyuEdge Conference on the Gold Coast and Beef Australia 2021 at Rockhampton.
2021-2031 AWA PROGENY TEST PROGRAM LAUNCHED
The AWA-PTP was launched at the 2021 WagyuEdge Conference. Since then, we have completed the first intake of sires and breeder herds for the program. The program is close to total capacity, with up to 40 sires and approximately 2,000 breeders nominating in the first year. Check the website soon for the latest announcements on the program, along with the final First Intake List of Sires and Breeder Herds participating.
The purpose of the AWA-PTP is to prove up a diverse range and large number of new sires - see page 56 to explain the range of carcase progeny performance records we have on Fullblood registered sires.
The AWA-PTP will produce 250 more sires with more than ten carcase progeny and approximately 75% EBV accuracy.
AWA BOARD UPDATE
The AWA Board continue to meet quarterly to review AWA performance against the 2020-2021 operational plan and to consider strategy to delivery the 2020-2025 Strategic Plan;
1. MIJ-30 Digital Carcase Camera application for AUSMEAT accreditation finalised: At the time of the AWA Board meeting, the Australian Meat Industry Language and Standards Committee (AMILSC) had not yet met to assess the AWA application for Marble Score 0-9+ accreditation of the MIJ-30 camera.
The AWA Board approved the application to the AMILSC noting that if successful, the MIJ-30 camera would be the only technology approved for use in cut-surface grading for Marble Score 0-9+. The AMILSC subsequently approved the MIJ-30 camera for Marble Score 0 -9+.
2. Change to Animal ID format approved to include the two-digit year number before the year code letter within the AWA animal identifier.
From the end of 2021, animal idents will reflect the following structure: ABCF 22 T001 instead of ABCFT001. This change will prevent future duplication of animals within the AWA Herdbook. Duplications are starting to occur due to Year Letter repeats with only 24 different Year Letters and Wagyu being bred in Australia for more than 30 years.
The AWA will communicate this change prior to registration of Animals born in 2022.
3. The Board approved the development of a Commercial Crossbred Wagyu genomic test: This project is a collaboration with CSIRO and Neogen Australasia to enable rapid DNA screening on non-registered crossbred Wagyu animals and prediction of carcase and feedlot performance. The AWA is working with CSRIO and Neogen to complete the development of a stand-alone genomic test within 2021.
4. Cyber Vulnerability Assessment Project completed: The Board approved a project to complete full external assessment of AWA’s vulnerability to attack from online sources. This project was undertaken to understand exposure of AWA systems and databases to attack from external parties and to assist continued improvement in stewardship of member data resources and cyber security. The project was completed prior to the end of July 2021 with recommendations to be made to the AWA Board.
5. Release of the 2021 AWA Industry Survey was approved The AWA has historically conducted surveys of its members every 4 years, with the last survey being conducted in 2017. The 2021 Survey is now open and preliminary results aimed for release at the 2021 AGM.
6. AWA is tracking well against all operational and service metrics to the end of the financial year, the AWA core business is meeting planned performance targets, with the trend towards significant increases in membership, DNA testing and performance recording by AWA members from prior years being maintained.
7. The AWA 2022 – 2025 budget was approved taking into account budgeted income and expenditure against the 2021-2031 AWA Progeny Test Program. Corporate expenses including staff costs are forecast to remain at 28% of revenue, comparing favourably to our benchmarked target of <40% of industry service organisations.
The AWA provided an update on benchmarking costs of services to members in our July 2021 Wagyu webinar. Catch up on the free webinar by visiting our website.
8. AWA membership has increased 12.5% from 762 to 857 members for the 2021 financial year., The AWA now has 731 full members and 126 are associate members.
AWA STAFF UPDATE
Mr Henry Newell-Hutton started with the AWA in July 2021. Henry previously worked at Angus Australia. Henry is an Armidale local, keen horseman and is a great new asset for the Member Services Team. Henry replaces Ms Debbie Lowe, who has been part of the member services team for the last 2 years. We thank Debbie for her hard work within our Member Services team where she had a leading role in looking after our international members and working through more complex registrations.
Ms Emily Rabone has taken over as the AWA Marketing and Communications Manager. Emily replaces Deb Andrich, who finished with the AWA after Beef Australia 2021. We thank Deb for working with us during a period of enormous growth for the AWA.
Dr Matt McDonagh AWA CEO
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INSET (FROM TOP)
Jason Strong, Managing Director, Meat & Livestock Australia presents at the WagyuEdge Conference 2021.
Brian Angus of Woodview Wagyu joined us virtually from South Africa to share insights about his Wagyu breeding journey.
A MARQUEE INDUSTRY EVENT, TWO YEARS IN THE MAKING
After a tumultuous 2020 thanks to COVID-19, it was a privilege to meet again with 400 delegates face-to-face and an additional 60 online, a first for WagyuEdge to be fully streamed online to our global audience.
The conference focused on providing insights into the Wagyu supply chain within our shores and beyond, involving many high-class speakers to deliver three days of magnificent talks and demonstrations. Included were the Wagyu Branded Beef Competition awards where records were broken in our biggest competition to date, along with a highly successful Elite Wagyu Sale. The WagyuEdge tour followed, with a 3.5-day trip through central Queensland ending in Rockhampton, visiting some of the best, operations throughout.
The conference was kicked off by the launch of the AWA 2021-2031 Progeny Test Program (PTP), a program set to drive the Global Wagyu sector into the future. AWA CEO, Dr Matt McDonagh said that over the last five years there has been an 80% increase in growth trait recording and 135% in carcase trait recording, highlighting that performance recording drives genetic evaluation.
A full article on the AWA PTP can be found on page 56.
In launching this program, AWA Genetic Projects Manager, Laura Penrose highlighted a foundation of two partnerships which would assist in delivering this program – Zoetis and Vetoquinol. Dr Sophie Edwards, Marketing and Technical Manager for Vetoquinol joined us to speak about accelerate the genetic resources of the breeding and how Vetoquinol can support producers in achieving their breeding outcomes.
Day one also welcomed Professor Rob Banks and Dr Kirsty Moore from the Animal Genetics Breeding Unit (AGBU). Professors Banks delivered findings from their research into the Australian Wagyu population and prefectural
structure, refer to page 42 for more details. Dr Moore has been pivotal in the analysis of the Net Feed Intake data which has come from Kerwee lot feeders. The evening saw our welcome function along with the announcement of the Inaugural AWA Net Feed Intake Awards. Dr Kirsty Moore’s full article and the Net Feed Intake Award winners can be found on page 18.
Day two started with a market overview for premium beef exports by Jason Strong, Managing Director, Meat & Livestock Australia. Over the past 18 months, the world has significantly changed in terms of red meat supply and demand and the industry is not keeping up with our commentary and analysis of what’s truly happening. Highlighting that globally there are many consumers who can afford premium beef products and that we shouldn’t be naive about our opponents however we also shouldn’t listen to everything we hear.
We were joined by Mr Scott Richardson, Managing Director, Stone Axe Pastoral Company to address the Stone Axe journey and how it became what it is today. Their vision at inception was to be an Australia Fullblood Wagyu herd, producing a premium product in an environmentally and animal-friendly way. Read more about the successes of Stone Axe on page 25 after their
back to back wins in the Wagyu Branded Beef Competition. The Australian Country Choice group of companies is now the largest vertically integrated, family owned beef and cattle company in Australia, and globally. It’s a fourth-generation family owned business, and is now lead by Anthony Lee, CEO ACC. Mr Lee discussed the ACC diversification, with 200,000 head on 2 million acres. 55,000 head in three feedlots and 350,000 head processed annually through their very own processing plant in Cannon Hill. The ACC Wagyu program was a highlight of his talk.
“Australian Country Choice is 50 YEARS in the making, it’s been difficult at times and I can’t say it’s all been fun, but we now know that we are without a doubt, the best in the business” said Trevor Lee, Group Chairman, ACC Group of Companies.
Arthur Dew’s, Longford Station is well respected for its Fullblood cattle, producing some of the best Wagyu bulls in the country as well as a long standing live export market with Japan.
An early pioneer in the industry, Arthur has a commitment to improving the genetics of the Australian herd. Arthur joined us to speak about the development of the Longford herd and where they are headed.
Brindley Park is a keystone property in the ACC Wagyu operation, home to the renown Shadai Farm and Hawkesbury Wagyu Herds. ACC has rapidly accelerated its breeding programs at Brindley Park as part of its premium quality product strategy.
Mr Jeremy Cooper was the recipient of the 2019 AWA Fellowship, he joined us to speak about his learnings from his time spent in Japan and looking at implementing them here in Australia. Mr Coopers fellowship research was looking at variations in early life nutrition between Australia and Japan and how it can be applied to the Wagyu industry in Australia. The most important takeaway is that Wagyu in Japan are a national treasure, and they are cared for in a way which almost eliminates environmental factors, which we can’t do here in Australia.
Day two was concluded by a session focusing on research updates in Japanese Black cattle, with Professor Takafumi Gotoh and Professor Kenji Oyama joining us online from Japan. You can read their full article on page 50, where they discussed changing production systems in japan and genetic improvement of Japanese black cattle. Dr Brendon O’Rourke from Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute and discusses the importance of DNA testing to establish genetic recessive conditions, where there is a total of 168 conditions in
all beef cattle, 12 of which are relevant to Wagyu cattle.
Starzen Australia is part of the global Starzen Company and their goal is to become a global company that delivers everyday happiness through our food value chain. Kosuke (Johnny) Shimazoe, Director, Starzen Australia and Kosuke (Oscar) Kuroda, Sales Manager, Starzen Australia joined us live and discussed the Starzen operation. In Japan the operation includes seven processing plants for beef and pork alongside five manufacture plants and 5 retail pack plants. Starzen are the third largest meat producer in Japan and have just launched their brand “Eight Blossom Beef”, partnering with Australian Wagyu producers to grow their business.
With COVID restrictions not allowing our international delegates and speakers to attend, we turned to technology to hear from Brian Angus of Woodview Wagyu, or better known as Mr. Wagyu South Africa, about his journey to establishing Wagyu production in South Africa. Woodview Wagyu Beef focuses on quality and
integrity through the Wagyu South Africa certification program.
Australian Agricultural Company is Australia’s oldest continuously operating company, established in 1824 and they are committed to innovative environmental management which protects their resources and focus heavily on rigorous and continuous improvement. Their research and advancements in their poll production program have been at the forefront for them for a number of years. Matius Saurez, AACo Regional Manager Breeding and Genetics, said that they always aim to make use of the most advanced, innovative technologies available.
Peter Gilmore, Managing Director, Irongate Wagyu says that the essential tools to the Irongate Wagyu business are Matesel, data capture, data analytics, the 1%’s and a concept beef brand. Mr Gilmore attributes their ability to achieve a 1.2kg ADG over the 14 days of yard weaning, to their use of creep feeding. Mr Gilmore joined us live online to deliver his exciting WagyuEdge presentation.
Glentana Station is central to the expansive AACo Polled Wagyu program, which has achieved considerable scale over the last few years. Members learned how AACo has amplified its Westholme genetics through a unique Polled breeding program.
A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR 2021 CONFERENCE & TOUR SPONSORS
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TRIFECTA OF TRIPLE BREED AVERAGE IN REACH THANKS TO GENOMICS
THE POWER OF DNA TESTING AND GENOMIC ANALYSIS HAS PUT WITHIN REACH THE TRIPLE CROWN OF ACHIEVING THREETIMES THE BREED AVERAGE FOR GROWTH, CARCASE WEIGHT AND MARBLING FOR CIRCLE 8 BULLS’ JEREMY COOPER.
The Marulan, NSW, based Wagyu breeder says the incredible milestone would not have been possible without an early decision to adopt Neogen’s genomic selection technologies, which have rapidly accelerated the rate of improvement in his herd.
And now the inclusion of these elite Wagyu genetics in a commercial Angus breeding group for F1 Wagyu production is generating new possibilities for advanced genomic analysis, through new a customised DNA testing program being developed by Neogen.
“My first use of genomics was in the late 1990s when I was solely breeding Angus cattle and when I learnt about DNA testing I knew I needed to start using this technology for verifying my animals’ parentage and giving them pedigree integrity,” Mr Cooper said.
“It was expensive at the time, but I knew that as the technology moved forward that one day we would be able to look inside the animal at key genetic traits. I’ve been with Neogen ever since.”
Circle 8 Bulls currently supplies about 50 Wagyu bulls to a NSW-based supply chain, which runs 5000 Angus cows, with plans to increase the herd to 8000 in the future.
Working with Neogen, they are implementing the first Igenity Enhanced testing program. Neogen’s Igenity Beef test is designed to provide commercial cattle breeders with an objective genetic selection tool for within herd ranking. It utilises DNA to predict genetic variation in both heifers and steers, providing an additional selection tool to commercial producers to use when culling, joining or supplementary feeding.
By applying the Igenity testing system across the various commercial cows that are bought for the breeding group each year, the breeders will be able rank the female population for joining or culling, with only the top females selected for mating with the elite Wagyu bulls.
“We’ll then collect DNA from the progeny, along with feedlot and carcase data, and through the Igenity Enhanced analysis, we’ll have a comprehensive set of rankings for a range of production traits to use in when making selection decisions for the next generation,” Mr Cooper said.
“With the Igenity Enhanced rankings we will be able to accelerate the rate of genetic improvement, increasing marbling and decreasing days on feed. This whole process has only been made possible through the use of genomics.”
IDENTIFYING AND BREEDING FEED EFFICIENT CATTLE
NET FEED INTAKE AND INAUGURAL AWARDS
Identifying and breeding feed efficient cattle can significantly reduce feed costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Both are desirable, but feed efficiency is a difficult and expensive trait to measure. Measuring feed efficiency requires animals to undergo a feed intake test, utilising feeders that record the exact amount of feed eaten over the course of a 70-day test period. An accurate measure of daily feed intake (DFI) is only part of the information required to describe differences in feed efficiency.
To avoid selecting for cattle that may eat less but do not achieve target growth rates, we select for Net Feed Intake (NFI). NFI is the difference between expected (based on size and growth) and actual feed intake.
This means that along with DFI, an accurate record of growth over the test period is required. Animals with more negative NFI are those which ate less to achieve the same amount of growth compared to their more positive NFI contemporaries. NFI is moderately heritable (0.2 to 0.4), and improvement in the trait can be achieved by genetic selection.
The Australian Wagyu Association (AWA) has started recording NFI in the feedlot with the aim of developing a NFI EBV. In partnership with Kerwee feedlot and MLA. Daily feed intake records have been recorded on almost 1,000 animals to date, and although more records are needed, an initial analysis of the data was encouraging, showing that:
» NFI in Wagyu was heritable and displayed adequate genetic variation for selection to be effective, with a range in predicted sire differences (between the least and most efficient sires) of 0.8kg/day.
» Based on these differences, and assuming the same production levels, feed cost savings as a direct result of genetic feed efficiency differences would be $2,800 over a 400 day feedlot finishing period (assuming 0.8kg/day genetic difference, 50 progeny per sire and $350/t feed costs).
» The data illustrated that DFI alone will not identify feed efficient animals, with negative NFI sires displaying a range in genetic DFI. Likewise, there were low and high DFI sires among the least feed efficient sires.
Kirsty Moore Research Geneticists Animal Genetics Breeding Unit (AGBU)
There are two NFI traits in the current BREEDPLAN evaluation; NFI recorded post weaning or at feedlot entry. NFI at both stages is heritable with a strong genetic correlation (rg=0.65) between the two, suggesting that selecting for one will, on average, produce genetic improvement in the other, but that the traits are not controlled by the same genes.
» For the 29 sires with 10 or more progeny recorded, there was no relationship apparent between NFI and the other traits in BREEEDPLAN.
If Wagyu breeders are to build an effective genetic evaluation for feed efficiency, it is essential that the breed continue to collect high quality NFI data. As a hard
From left, George Lubbe Arthur Dew, Keith Hammond, Laird Morgan and Matt McDonagh.
to measure trait, recording NFI in reference population animals and exploiting genomic information will allow the largest possible section of the population to obtain accurate NFI EBVs. For this to be most effective, it is important that the NFI records are collected in animals which are closely related to the population where selection occurs, and that complete contemporary group information (including dates of birth and breed makeup) is available for those animals.
NFI is a difficult and expensive trait to measure, but the benefits of breeding more feed efficient cattle are greater for Wagyu than for breeds that require shorter feeding periods to achieve the desired product. Wagyu breeders have made a good start in developing breeding values for feed efficiency, though there is a need for more, high quality data before reliable EBVs for the trait can be produced.
INAUGURAL AWA NET FEED INTAKE AWARDS
In partnership with Stockyard, the AWA has been conducting net feed intake studies since 2018, at Kerwee Feedlot near Jondaryn Queensland using the Growsafe feeders. Twelve cohorts of steer progeny have passed through the trial so far, representing 56 different Wagyu fullblood sires. The Inaugural AWA Net Feed Intake awards were presented at the 2021 WagyuEdge Conference on the Gold Coast. The top three sires were awarded according to net feed intake alone, along with the highest ranking profitability sire based on feed intake as well as carcase traits.
Net Feed Intake
1. Peter Gilmore, Irongate Wagyu Itoshigenami B0006 IGWFB0006
2. Peter Gilmore, Irongate Wagyu Itoshigenami 2 L71 IGWFL0071
It is worth noting that three of the four awarded sires are progeny or grand progeny of the Foundation Sire TF148 Itoshigenami (IMUFQTF148).
Itoshigenami himself was also one of the top ranking NFI sires, with more than 50 progeny recorded for NFI across three different intake cohorts.
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VALE DAVID WARMOLL A GIANT OF THE WAGYU SECTOR
A PIONEER OF AUSTRALIAN WAGYU BRANDS RECOGNIZED
David Warmoll will forever be recognised as a key figure in establishing the Australian Wagyu export industry.
David is recognised as initiating trade protocols for new Australian Wagyu export markets.
David and Phillip Warmoll bred their first Wagyu x Angus F1 cattle in 1991. Their pioneering work during the early 90’s was pivotal in developing the Wagyu sector, establishing shipments of live export cattle to Japan and the first shipments of Wagyu beef.
David is noted as being the 7th member of the Australian Wagyu Association – with Jack’s Creek becoming a full member of the Australian Wagyu Association on the 29th of September 1995.
As one of the early pioneers of the Wagyu Sector, David is recognised as initiating trade protocols for new Australian Wagyu export markets. To capitalise on the developing markets for Australian produced Wagyu beef, the Jack’s Creek brand was created in 2000 and has contributed to developing the now substantial Australian Wagyu export market.
David was an instantly recognisable figure to the Australian Wagyu community, being a passionate and outspoken champion of Wagyu and his Jack’s Creek brand. He was an enormously valuable source
of knowledge and expertise related to Wagyu and the processing, export and Marketing of Wagyu beef.
David was there when the first F1 Wagyu X Angus live exports to Japan were instigated with Peter Knauer, along with Nick Sher, Wally Ray, Keith and John Hammond. He was pivotal in developing knowhow relating to feeding of Wagyu F1’s, with his first Wagyu lot fed at Maydan Feedlot with Geoff Willet and Alan Hoey in 1995.
A characteristic of David and Jack’s Creek was the enduring long-term relationships that were formed during those early days and that are still maintained today.
Jack’s Creek has remained a member of the AWA for the last 25 years, with many of AWA’s members having forged long-term relationships with David that have lasted through to the current day.
David Warmoll was recognised on the 27th of April 2021 as one of AWA’s seven 25+ year members.
The Jack’s Creek brand stands tall and is recognised by its peers, with a total of 7 gold medals accrued through our national AWA Wagyu Branded Beef Competition in addition to 3 world titles at the World’s Best Steak competition in London.
We recognise the wonderful contribution of one of the Giants of the Australian Wagyu Sector.
PREVENTING LEPTOSPIROSIS:
PROTECTING YOUR CATTLE AND YOUR FAMILY
With an increased vigilance around zoonotic diseases (diseases which transfer directly from animals to humans), it’s worth reviewing the key reasons cattle producers are utilising Ultravac® 7in1 to protect the workforce on their farm.
In the human version of the disease, leptospirosis (also known as “lepto”) causes flu-like symptoms with a high proportion of people requiring hospitalisation. My father, David Petersen, caught the disease while calving a cow on a dairy farm near Finley NSW. He spent several days in hospital, with a severe fever and headache. With the aid of a good doctor, who recognised the signs early and initiated antibiotics, he recovered quickly. Unfortunately, the diagnosis of leptospirosis is not always achieved quickly, and treatment can be delayed. This can be a reason that people report chronic flu like symptoms for some time after infection.
The disease is contracted both in humans and cattle through direct contact with infected urine, placental material or contaminated water. The bacteria enters the body through mucous membranes of the eyes and mouth or damaged skin. Human infections can occur:
» While assisting during calving without proper protection
» From urine splashing from infected cows during milking or calving
» Indirectly via contaminated water, food or soil
» By handling an aborted foetus or afterbirth
» Through contact with floodwaters Leptospirosis affects beef and dairy cattle. The bacteria can live in the environment for months in moist conditions before infecting
an animal. It can also survive for a long time in stagnant water and can spread over large areas in floodwaters. Once infected, cattle can subsequently shed Lepto in their urine. In the case of L. hardjo, cattle can shed Lepto for periods greater than 12 months after their initial infection.
The consequences of infection in cattle are infertility, abortion and weak calves. Lepto can cause a form of mastitis where cows show a sudden drop in milk production and high cell count, with any milk produced potentially going a yellow colour. This can happen in an individual cow or group of cows, often in the absence of other clinical signs.
Cattle are a host to two common species of Leptospira, Leptospira borgpetesenii serovar Hardjo type Hardjobovis, referred to as Lepto hardjo for short, and Leptospira
interrogans serovar Pomona, which is generally shortened to Lepto pomona. Most readers would commonly skip straight over the scientific name and not realise that different vaccines contain different species of Lepto hardjo, which cause different responses to the vaccine in cows. Ultravac® 7in1 contains the above two strains of Lepto hardjo and pomona which have been sourced locally and is manufactured in Australia. The Australian Lepto hardjo strain used in Ultravac® 7in1 elicits a strong cell mediated immune response which is necessary to prevent infection of the kidneys of cows and subsequent urinary shedding. When used prior to natural exposure, Ultravac® 7in1 prevents urinary shedding of Leptospira, breaking the cycle of infection in cow herds and stopping the spread of new infections.
Ultravac® 7in1 can be given to calves from as early as 4 weeks of age and the vaccine works in the presence of maternal antibodies. Other vaccines only work to minimise shedding and can only be given to older calves after maternal antibodies have worn off, providing an opportunity for infection to occur. Given only a tiny number of bacteria are required to cause infection and disease in both cattle and humans, Ultravac® 7in1’s unique mode of action is the only way to stop new infections occurring and clear the disease out of the herd. By preventing urinary shedding of Lepto, you will also be providing a safe workplace for staff.
To provide protection to cattle, it’s essential to begin vaccination early in life. Figure 1 gives a good representation of this:
He has extensive clinical experience in mixed animal practice and lives in southern NSW
ULTRAVAC® 7IN1 ALSO PROTECTS AGAINST THE 5 KEY CLOSTRIDIAL DISEASES AFFECTING CATTLE IN AUSTRALIA: TETANUS, BLACKLEG, ENTEROTOXAEMIA, MALIGNANT OEDEMA AND BLACK DISEASE.
ZOETIS RECOMMENDS
ULTRAVAC® 7IN1 AS THE CORE VACCINE FOR CATTLE. IT’S SIMPLE TO IMPLEMENT AND HIGHLY EFFECTIVE.
FIGURE 1 Vaccination requirements of cattle
Dr Matthew Petersen BVetBiol, BVSc Veterinary Operations Manager, Zoetis
In conjunction with MLA and the AWA we are offering you the chance to gain unprecedented access to data on the feed efficiency of your cattle.
Our program arms you with individual animal data, and the analytic tools and support you’ll need to maximise profits and enable selection for feed efficiency, without jeopardising marbling performance or other desirable traits. With upgraded analytical software and added in-pen weighing cells, joining the trial now will give you improved granularity and accuracy of data.
COHORT DATES
25 August, 2021
8 December, 2021
23 March, 2021
6 July, 2021
19 October, 2022
Limited placements available in trial
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION
GEORGE LUBBE
General Manager Feedlot Operations
george@stockyardbeef.com.au 0408 502 787
PHOEBE JENKINS
Genetic Improvement Officer
phoebe@stockyardbeef.com.au 0439 221 469
TEN-YEAR MILESTONE FOR WAGYU BRANDED BEEF COMPETITION
2021 marked a 10-year milestone for the Wagyu Branded Beef Competition (WBBC) presented by the Australian Wagyu Association. The 2021 competition saw the largest number of entries and not one, but three back-to-back champions within the competition classes.
The WBBC represents the pinnacle of achievement for Australian Wagyu brands and celebrates the hard work of early pioneers and newcomers within the Wagyu sector. We congratulate all the winners in this year’s competition and commend them for continuously striving to advance the worlds luxury beef.
Class three, Commercial Wagyu steak MS 5-7, sponsored by Hughes Pastoral was taken out by Pardoo Beef Corporation for the second year in a row. The animal was fed for 420 days, slaughtered at 36 months, and ended up with a digital marbling percentage of 35% and an eye muscle area of 102 cm 2. Judges described the steak as a delightful balance of clean flavours, fresh aroma, and buttery tenderness with lasting juiciness.
Direct Meat Company, Connors Wagyu were crowned the champions in Class Two, open crossbred Wagyu steak, sponsored by Bovine Dynamics. Spending 390 days on feed and slaughtered at 36 months, judges described this steak as having a wonderful well balanced rich and clean beefy flavours with lasting juiciness, tenderness, and abundant fine marbling. The steak recorded a digital marbling of 45%, with 69.0 digital marbling fineness and a total eye muscle area of 78cm 2
The best of the best in Fullblood Japanese Black branded beef programs battled it out for the title of Class One champion, sponsored by Zoetis. The winner of this class, for the second-year running was Stone Axe Pastoral, with an entry that had a digital marbling of 54%, digital marbling fineness of 75.1 and an eye muscle area of 99 cm 2
The animal was fed for 350 days and was slaughtered at 32-34 months, the judges described this steak as having unbelievable richness, complex flavours of sweetness, dairy and cereal, melt in your moth juiciness with an exquisite tender and silky finish.
Stone Axe Pastoral’s, Fullblood Japanese Black entry went on to be crowned Grand Champion Wagyu, in a first for the competition after them also receiving this award last year. This is the second year Stone Axe Pastoral have entered the WBBC and they have come away with two Grand Champion Awards, Stone Axe Pastorals Managing Director, Scott Richardson was extremely proud to accept the award in front of a large contingent of his team.
<<< from page 25
Established in 2014, the original Stone Axe Wagyu herd was 885 Full Bloods in June 2017. Stone Axe has achieved significant short-term growth with a herd now of more than 15,000 head.
Stone Axe Wagyu has fast become one of the leading Full Blood Wagyu brands in Australia and is becoming highly sought after both domestically and internationally.
Mr Richardson says like most in the industry, the company faced significant challenges in the recent droughts, bush fires and now COVID. The consecutive Grand Champion awards are the result of the hard work and dedication of the business.
The win reflects the company’s unwavering commitment to their vision to produce the best Wagyu in the most environmentally friendly way, and he credits the win to a team committed to excellence and “Stone Axe’s holistic approach to premium Wagyu beef production incorporating genetic purity and product quality control, along with the outstanding commitment from our team, are all to thank for this major industry accolade,” he says.
“Producing Wagyu of the highest quality and achieving these awards takes good people, superior genetics and committed financial support, underpinned by an unwavering commitment to the science and art of Wagyu raising,” says Mr Richardson.
We are very humbled to be awarded 2021 Grand Champion, and to be the first brand ever to win the
for two consecutive years. As a young company we are proud to have achieved this major industry accolade in our first seven years of operation.
2021 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE MR GEOFF WILLETT
It is with great honour that the AWA were able to induct, Geoffrey Willett, Maydan Feedlot into the Hall of Fame at this years WagyuEdge Conference. Geoff’s integrity, tenacity and dedication to Wagyu in Australia has paved the way for many in the Wagyu sector to prosper and produce the worlds luxury beef.
In conversations about the early pioneering days of Australian Wagyu, a number of names would often be mentioned, Geoff was among those, all of these visionary people having played their part in shaping the Australian Wagyu sector to what it is today.
Geoff was quick to pick up on the value that the Wagyu breed could bring to the Australian Beef Industry and was an early adopter in aligning his operation to provide specialised Wagyu Feeding programs.
Former
AWA President, Joe
Grose
The challenges faced by those early pioneers included stoic opposition to Wagyu as a new and misunderstood breed, finding markets for Wagyu beef and F1 live exports, understanding the genetics and how to feed them.
Recognising that nutrition was a vital component of successful Wagyu production necessitated research into Japanese feeding regimes and applying the knowledge in a local context.
Former AWA president, Joe Grose said that Geoff was quick to pick up on the value that the Wagyu breed could bring to the Australian Beef Industry and was an early adopter in aligning his operation to provide specialised Wagyu Feeding programs.
Advocating for the quality of Wagyu beef, Geoff championed the cause with AUS-MEAT to extend the marble score rating to 7, 8 and 9 to accommodate the higher levels achieved in Wagyu.
According to John Hammond, the early days of the Certified Wagyu Corporation, a marketing company set up by Wagyu producers in the mid-1990s to fulfil the F1 live trade owes a lot of its success to the determination of Geoff.
The reputation of the man and his business is testament to his tenacity to overcome challenges and surround himself with people to advise him on the feedlot journey.
Starting from a humble 4 pens in 1984, his feedlot went on to represent the very best of Wagyu feeding programs, with many of those early pioneers staying with the program until its sale in 2017, where it housed at least 77 pens of premium Wagyu cattle.
Maydan Feedlot, and its owner, Geoff Willett were synonymous with premium Wagyu. According to Alan Hoey, who was there with Geoff as Maydan Feedlot Manager in the very beginning, it is the mistakes and the lessons learned by Geoff, that many feedlots today have benefited from, around the country.
Alan Hoey (L) and Geoff Willett
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS
FOUNDING AWA MEMBERS RECOGNISED
In recognizing the members below, the AWA acknowledges that some of its founding members contributed to development of the AWA’s original Constitution and Articles of Association – back in 1989.
The current electronic records of the AWA record membership from 1994 onwards.
The AWA celebrates the following 7 members.
PETER WINKLER
AWA
MEMBER 1994 KOBEEF
Peter Winkler is the founding member of the Australian Wagyu Association and served as the first President between 1989-1994. As such, Peter’s membership starts with the AWA in about 1991 and predates current records.
In a search to produce high quality Australian beef to rival the famous Kobe beef, Peter was the first to import live Wagyu – a calf called Kinu - into the country. His herd went on to be a well-recognised name for purebred Wagyu here in Australia and New Zealand. Through Peter’s vision for Wagyu in Australia, the breed society was enabled in 1989 and the Australian Wagyu industry grew domestically and internationally for both breeders and beef producers.
DAVID & JULIE BLACKMORE
BLACKMORE WAGYU
AWA MEMBER
1994
As a stock agent for dairy cattle, David Blackmore was well placed to assist the fledgling Wagyu industry develop in Australia, helping many of our pioneers get started with their herds including Sumo Cattle Company, Hammonds and Takeda Farms
Blackmore Wagyu started its own enterprise in 1993 with F1 cattle but soon realised that increasing marble score could be readily achieved with grading up to Fullblood beef production. The result is a brand that is now renown around the world.
KEITH AND JOHN HAMMOND AWA MEMBER 1994
ISLAND WAGYU (HAMMOND FARMS)
The Hammond family were one of the pioneers of the Australian Wagyu industry, establishing Robbins Island Wagyu on the remote northwest cape of Tasmania. Like Peter Winkler, the Island Wagyu membership was one of the original few that started in 1991.
Development of the Purebred herd gave a number of polled calves, which has led to the development of their extensive Polled Wagyu herd.
As the third president of the Association between 1997-1999, Keith Hammond was an active part of the Board for more than 10 years and the industry as a whole. John has also served on the AWA Board for many years.
ARTHUR & ESMA DUPEN AWA MEMBER 1994 LINDAN WAGYU
Lindan Wagyu is a family company whose operation is based at Barrington, NSW. Their approach has been to produce high quality Fullblood Wagyu breeding cattle and embryos.
Lindan Wagyu is one of 5 AWA members registered first in 1994 who have maintained their membership since that date.
What are the benefits?
• Increased calf growth rates
• Reduce the number of dry cows
• Higher post weaning growth rates
• Early weaning for flexibility in drought
<<< from page 31
SIMON COATES – NOW THE COATES FAMILY AWA MEMBER 1994 SUMO PASTORAL CO
Dr Simon Coates is recognised for establishing one of the first Wagyu herds in Australia using imported Wagyu genetics from the US and Canada with the aim to establishing a seedstock source for Australian Fullblood genetics.
Simon was one of the few original 1991 members and was an integral part of promotion of Wagyu to Australian interests, participating in many fields days around the country to showcase the benefits of Wagyu to the beef industry.
As the second president of the Association between 1994 – 1997, Simon oversaw substantial growth in membership and public awareness. Simon was recognised in 2018 as a life member of the AWA and with his passing, AWA has initiated the Dr Simon Coates Scholarship for Veterinary and Reproductive Science. Through the Fellowship, we can continue to recognise the great contributions of one of our founding members and honour his passion for the advancement of Wagyu.
NICK AND VICKI SHER AWA MEMBER 1995 SHER WAGYU
Nick and Vicki Sher are recognised as starting as an AWA founding member in 1991, with their current AWA membership commencing in 1995. They have made significant on the ground contributions to the Australian Wagyu industry, establishing the first crossbred herd with Holsteins, the first airfreighted carton beef export and forging many new markets in the early years of the Association. The Sher philosophy has always been to source the right genetics to complement the traits that are present in their herd, rather than aligning with any specific supplier of genetics.
We can also thank Vicki for her vision for Wagyu with the design of the AWA logo in the early 90s, which is still in use today.
DAVID WARMOLL & THE WARMOLL/JACK’S CREEK FAMILY AWA MEMBER 1995
JACK’S CREEK
In 1991, David started with American Wagyu genetics across Angus to establish an F1 trade to Japan. The company, Australian Certified Wagyu Beef, trading as Jack’s Creek to market Wagyu beef. Now known as Jack’s Creek, the company is one of the first to be a vertically integrated operation from breeding through to market. The brand, Jack’s Creek is probably more recognisable now as a result of the World Steak Challenge wins in the past few years, a testament to the faith David and Phillip Warmoll had in Wagyu beef.
With the sad news of David’s recent passing, we recognise David and his enormous contribution to the Wagyu Sector.
We
Nutritional Programs
From Conception to Carcass
Feed Management Programs
For successful cattle feeding, managing feeding systems, feed manufacture and delivery are critical points in any nutritional program
Performance Audits
Assesses biological and environmental influences on animal and carcass performance
Training and Education Programs
Tailored to maximise staff commitment and compliance within operations
CONSULTING NUTRITIONISTS
John Doyle BS, MS, DVM, PhD
Phil Dew BRurSc, MS
Robert Lawrence BRurSc(Hons), MRurSc, PhD
Stephen Bonner BAgSc(RuralTech), PhD
THIRD & FOURTH GENERATION WAGYU PROVEN SIRES
IS CARCASE DATA REALLY KING? WELL, IT DEPENDS IF IT IS USED IN A GENETIC ANALYSIS OF NOT
The purpose of this article is to challenge a couple of long-held myths in the Wagyu Sector. The first myth is that only the Foundation Sires (first generation sires out of Japan) are proven sires for carcase traits. Through AWA BREEDPLAN, we have third and fourthgeneration sires with 50 to more than 100 carcase progeny records. Though this article, we will explain the great volume of carcase data that AWA members have submitted for 780 sires so far.
The second myth is that having raw carcase data for the sires in your herd is the most important information relating to that sire’s genetic merit. In busting the first myth above, where you have carcase data across consecutive generations of sires (e.g. first, second, third and fourth-generation sires), this adds substantial information to improving the genetic merit prediction of a sire through the pedigree of the animal.
If you are using raw carcase data for a sire in isolation or just in your own herd, you are missing out on the true value of that data alongside the large volume of carcase data being supplied by many AWA members. Combining this data within AWA BREEDPLAN is the best way to achieve genetic merit estimation of your sire.
FIGURE 1
Additive performance recording trends to June 2021.
THE FUNDAMENTALS
Over the last ten years, the AWA members have contributed more than 13,000 Fullblood carcase records into the AWA BREEDPLAN evaluation.
The year on year increase for the last two years has been significant, at 30% additional new records each year since 2019. These trends are consistent with total performance recording for other major traits (Figure 1).
In AWA BREEDPLAN, animals who have progeny in the Slaughter Register that are recorded for carcase traits including Carcase Weight (Cwt) and Marble Score (MS) can be identified by viewing the EBV table of a registered animal.
TABLE 1
EBV table for TF Itohana 2 (IMUFN2294) identifying the Carcase Progeny count for the sire.
An example is provided in Table 1 for the foundation sire TF Itohana 2 (IMUFN2294), which shows that he has “265 Carcase Progeny ” registered in the AWA Slaughter Register for which carcase data has been provided by different AWA members.
Using the AWA Slaughter Register, AWA members have contributed carcase progeny records for the 780 different sires with carcase progeny in AWA BREEDPLAN.
HOW MANY CARCASE PROGENY RECORDS DO WE REALLY HAVE FOR DIFFERENT SIRES?
Figure 2 shows the top 25 sires ranked by the number of carcase progeny records for each sire.
Each sire is also coded by its generation, blue being foundation sires, red being second-generation sires (i.e., the progeny of a foundation sire) and green being third-generation sires (progeny of a second-generation sire).
The 25th ranked sire (IMJFA2351) still has more than 100 carcase progeny records.
Of note in Figure 2, is that over half of the sires with the highest number of carcase progeny records are the secondgeneration sires
Registering animals in the AWA Slaughter Register and providing the carcase data for these animals is FREE for AWA members. AWA covers all costs associated with this, except for DNA testing costs for parentage verification.
July 2021 Wagyu BREEDPLAN
Traits Analysed: Genomics
ADBFA0139
WKSFM0164
IMUFQTF148
IMUFQTF147
IMUFN2294
ADBFZ0025
DBDFZ0680
SMOFE0180
BDWFC1306
IMUFR3258
WKSFS0100
WESFZ0278
GOSFC0457
SMOFF0278
SBYFE0084
GOSFB0410
WKSFP0100
CCOFG0113
WESFTH004
BDWFC1569
ADBFH0602
IMJFAJ2810
WKSFP1593
BDWFC1255
IMJFAJ2351
FIGURE 2
The AWA foundation, second and third Generation Sires. 1st to 25th ranked sires by number of Carcase Progeny Records.
FOUNDATION SIRES
2ND GENERATION
3RD GENERATION
Number of BREEDPLAN carcase progeny records
Fullblood sire animal identifier
Fullblood sire animal identifier
ADBFD0482
GOSFB0400
IMUFLTF151
IMJFMJ068
WKSFP0001
WKSFM0139
ADBFD0454
GINFB0901
BDWFY0526
DBDFZ0626
SMOFE0410
IMUFQ2599
IGWFB0006
BDWFY0408
YOKFG0143
BDWFJ4174
BYWFY0398
GOSFB0404
ADBFD0410
ADBFD0489
GOSFB0377
LFDFD12558
IMUFP0036
GOSFC0485
FIGURE 3
The AWA foundation, second, third and fourth Generation Sires. 26th to 50 th ranked sires by number of Carcase Progeny Records.
FOUNDATION SIRES
2ND GENERATION
3RD GENERATION
4TH GENERATION
<<< from page 35
We also see that there are two third-generation sires in the top 25 ranked sires. This means that there are third-generation sires with more than 100 carcase progeny records in AWA BREEDPLAN.
The ranking of the next 25 sires, being numbers 26 to 50 based on carcase progeny numbers, is shown in Figure 3. Again, there are more second-generation sires (12) compared to foundation sires (6).
MIRFJ0650 0
Fullblood sire animal identifier
IGWFC0018
GOSFZ0306
SMOFD0024
GRSFF0146
BDWFM0495
IMUFRTF96
WKSFW0015
WESFX0179
BYWFY0342
LFDFZ1194
LFDFZ0558
SWSFB0260
MOYFB0346
SMOFC0158
SMOFD0087
RJHFF0030
LFDFH0254
ADBFJ0664
LFDFJ0396
WKSFN2892
SWSFE0025
LFDFG0958
LFDFA8316
KKWFB0399
PMGFL00047
FIGURE 4
The AWA foundation, second, third, fourth and fifth Generation Sires. 225th to 250 th ranked sires by number of Carcase Progeny Records.
FOUNDATION SIRES
2ND GENERATION
3RD GENERATION
4TH GENERATION
5TH GENERATION
Number of BREEDPLAN carcase progeny records
There are just as many third-generation sires (6) as there are foundation sires in this selection. Notably, a fourth-generation sire YOKFG0143 is the 40th ranked sire by number of carcase progeny records. The sire YOKG0143 has 59 of his own carcase progeny recorded, and there is a total of 790 carcase progeny collectively recorded across his pedigree including progeny from his sire, grand sires, great grand sires, and great-great grand sires.
The ranking of the sires from number 225 to number 250 based on carcase progeny numbers, is shown in Figure 4. Again, there are far more second-generation sires (14) compared to foundation sires (1). There are 7 third-generation sires as well as 2 fourthgeneration sires and one fifth-generation sire who has 11 carcase progeny records recoded against him.
GETTING THE MOST VALUE OUT OF CARCASE DATA
As stated earlier, AWA members have submitted carcase progeny records for 780 sires. 262 of these have 10 or more carcase progeny records of their own. However, as per the example of the fourth-generation sire YOKFG0143 (Figure 3), if we account for the contributions of the sires in the pedigrees of second , third , fourth and fifthgeneration sires , we get far greater power in our genetic analysis.
Looking back at Figure 2, if we take the 14th ranked sire by number of carcase progeny as an example of a thirdgeneration sire - SMOFF0278 has 143 carcase progeny himself. These carcase records not only contribute to determining his genetic merit (his EBVs), but also the genetic merit of the sires in his pedigree (Figure 5).
Looking at the pedigree of the third-generation sire SMOFF0278 (Figure 5), we can see that in addition to his 143 own carcase progeny, there are a total of 1,152 carcase progeny from his sire, grand sires and great grand sires also within his pedigree.
Within the AWA BREEDPLAN analysis, the records of each of the 1,152 carcase progeny in the pedigree of SMOFF0278 all contribute to determining SMOFF0278’s genetic merit (his EBVs).
Likewise, SMOFF0278’s 143 carcase progeny records contribute to determining the genetic merit (EBVs) of every ancestor in his pedigree (sires and dams). This is one of the reasons why using a genetic evaluation to determine genetic merit is very important, rather than just looking at raw sire averages within a single data set.
Using AWA BREEDPLAN, the EBVs for SMOFF0278 also considers the genetic merit of the females that SMOFF0278 was mated to. In determining the genetic merit of SMOFF0278, half of the progeny outcome of his carcase progeny came from the female side. This can’t be determined from sire averages alone, but it can be accurately determined through AWA BREEDPLAN.
Three-generation pedigree of Sumo Cattle Itoshigenami F278
PEDFA10632 SHIGESHIGENAMI JI0632
IMUFOTF148 ITOSHIGENAMI (IMP USA)
PEDFA661 FUKUYUKI
SUMFX0081 SUMO ITOSHIGENAMI X0081 (AI) (ET)
WKSFM0164 WORLD K's MICHIFUKU
SUMFT0250 SUMO FUKU T250 (AI) (ET)
IMUFR3254 TF CHIYOTAKE 22/4 (IMP USA) (ET)
SMOFF0278 SUMO CATTLE CO ITOSHIGENAMI F278
IMUFJTF40 TERUTANI J2494 TF40 (IMP JAP)
IMUFR3258 TF TERUTANI 40/1 (IMP USA) (AI) (ET)
PEDFA2453 TF DAI 2 KINNTOU 3
CCOFC0418 COATES TANI C418 (AI) (ET)
IMUFM2100 KIKUYASU 400 (IMP JAP)
SUMFU2179 SUMO YASU U2179 (AI) (ET)
IMUFR3259 TF DAI 2 KINNTOU 35/3 (IMP USA) (ET)
FIGURE 5
The three-generation pedigree of SMOFF0278, noting carcase records for himself (third-generation) and the sires in his pedigree, being the foundation and second-generation
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<<< from page 37
SUMMARY STATISTICS FOR AWA BREEDPLAN CARCASE DATA
There are 262 sires that have 10 or more carcase progeny records in AWA BREEDPLAN. Many of these sires inform each other through shared pedigrees to generate genetic merit estimates through EBVs and to create higher accuracy EBVs. Summary statistics for all sires that have 10 or more carcase progeny records in AWA BREEDPLAN are shown in Table 2.
As shown in Table 2, 11 of the top 262 sires are fourth-generation or higher with an average of 23 carcase records and Marble Score (MS) EBV accuracy of 79% and Carcase Weight (Cwt) EBV accuracy of 85%. These accuracies are the same as the average of the 60 third-generation sires, who have on average 29 carcase records. This is due to the high accuracy of sires within the pedigrees of the fourth-generation sires
The largest number of sires in the top 262 are second-generation sires (the progeny of Foundation sires). There are 169 second-generation sires that have an average of 39 carcase progeny records each and average MS and Cwt EBV accuracies of 81% and 86% respectively. On average, the 22 first-generation (foundation) sires have 118 carcase records per sire, but these range from a minimum of 11 records (WKSFN2892 World K’s Takazakura: Figure 4) to a maximum of 564 records (WKSFM0164 World K’s Michifuku Figure 1).
The average accuracy of the MS and Cwt EBVs for foundation sires are 91% and 94% respectively. The MS and Cwt EBVs for the foundation sires reflect both the carcase progeny records for these sires and the contribution of the carcase records from second , third , fourth and fifth-generation sire progeny of the foundation sires.
TABLE 2
Summary Statistics for Sires with more than 10 carcase progeny.
Third & fourth generation Wagyu Proven Sires
<<< from page 39
GETTING STARTED WITH CARCASE PROGENY RECORDING
Even small numbers of carcase progeny can start to impact a sires EBVs and their accuracy. There are 102 sires in AWA BREEDPLAN that have 2 carcase progeny records used in the Wagyu genetic analysis.
As shown in Figure 6, the average accuracy of MS EBV for these sires ( blue bar) is 67%. This compares to average accuracy of the MS EBV of newly born male calves (orange bar) with no carcase progeny at 50%.
The average Cwt EBV accuracy for sires with 2 carcase progeny records used in AWA BREEDPLAN is 72%, compared to average accuracy of the MS EBV of newly born male calves with no carcase progeny at 60%.
SUMMARY AND IMPLICATIONS
6
Comparison of Marble Score and Carcase Weight EBV accuracy: Sires with 2 carcase records vs Males with 0 carcase records.
EBV accuracy Cwt EBV accuracy Sires with two carcase progeny records Males with 0 carcase progeny records
1. There are more second and third-generation sires with significant numbers of carcase progeny then there are foundation sires with significant numbers of carcase progeny. We also have third and fourth-generation sires with 50 to more than 100 carcase progeny records.
2. Using raw averages for sires within your own herd has limited utility in determining genetic merit . Together, AWA members have submitted carcase progeny data for 780 sires. Through the AWA BREEDPLAN genetic analysis, the 13,000 carcase progeny records on these sires are used to generate high accuracy EBVs that take into account carcase data across up to 5 generations of sires (and dams) within a pedigree
3. Even low numbers of carcase records are beneficial in contributing to the EBV of the sire and the accuracy of those EBVs. Compared to males with no carcase progeny, the MS and Cwt EBVs of sires with only 2 carcase progeny records are on average 17% higher.
THE AWA-PROGENY TEST PROGRAM 2021-2031
There are 262 sires in the AWA BREEDPLAN genetic analysis with 10 or more carcase progeny The AWA-PTP is specifically designed to add another 250 sires to this number, which will bring the total number of sires with greater than 10 carcase records to more than 500.
If you are a small breeder and have found it difficult to obtain carcase progeny records on your sires, the AWA-PTP will allow you to obtain significant carcase progeny records for your sire. The AWA-PTP was open to sire nominations from all AWA members.
FIGURE
WHAT DO PREFECTURES TELL US ABOUT THE GENETICS OF WAGYU CATTLE IN AUSTRALIA?
BACKGROUND
Wagyu and Wagyu-derived cattle in Australia originate from Japan, and within Japan, from a breeding population originally structured around prefectures.
Prefectures are basically regions of Japan which had breeding programs for the cattle. Those programs included infusing exotic (non-Japanese) cattle genetics into the native cattle (themselves imported from a range of countries in earlier times), and then involving some mix of local focus coupled with infusions from other prefectures. The result being what might be considered “strains” of Wagyu – sub-populations that could all interbreed. These shared genes in common, but at the same time had some degree of differentiation in performance traits.
When Wagyu cattle were imported to Australia, animals were sourced from at least 7 prefectures (as well as “unknown” –meaning the prefectural origin could not be determined).
There had certainly been some progeny testing in Japan –within prefectures – and that had identified some sires with superior genetic merit for carcase traits, including such as Tajiri (Founder of the Tajima line, from Hyogo prefecture), Dai 7 Itozakura (a nationally influential sire in Japan) and Kedaka (an influential sire himself from Tottori prefecture).
These “bloodlines” represent the majority of Japanese Black Wagyu genetic background in the registered AWA population. Other minor influences are from the Okayama, Shimane, and Hiroshima prefectures.
= 364 INDIVIDUALS
Dr Yuandan Zhang and Prof. Robert Banks
Animal Genetics
Breeding Unit (AGBU)
Note that when breeders refer to an animal as a founder, it usually implies that the animal has been heavily used within the population over a period of time, and that usually means some amount of inbreeding, whether deliberate or not.
Although it is estimated that genetics from approximately 220 individuals were actually exported from Japan, the pedigree analysis undertaken has demonstrated that these animals trace back to 364 individual animals registered with the Japanese Wagyu Registry. We therefore have the genetic information contained within these 364 foundation animals represented in the AWA Japanese Black Fullblood herd.
AWA FULLBLOOD JAPANESE BLACK FOUNDATION ANIMALS
... Reducing
FIGURE 1
The AWA Herdbook – the largest Herdbook registry outside of Japan.
Australian Wagyu Prefectural Composition since 1989
the available diversity from the 364 individuals
down
to 7 prefectures or bloodlines
results
in a significant loss of useful pedigree information that is beneficial for managing genetic gain and maintaining genetic diversity. Prefectural analysis ignores the genetic diversity between individuals of given prefectural composition.
AGBU RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
In our work relating to prefectural analysis, we have focussed on two questions:
1. Can we determine the prefectural makeup of each animal, given that we have been provided with prefectural composition data on foundation animals in Australia?
2. Can we analyse performance data to assess how useful knowing the prefectural composition is in describing genetic merit of an animal?
To address the first question, Dr Zhang took the data on prefectural origin for the foundation 364 animals, and spread that information down through the entire pedigree. The principle is simple – assume we have two parents and we know their prefectural origin:
SHIMANE
OKAYAMA
HIROSHIMA
UNKNOWN
Starting with the original imported animals, this allows us to determine prefectural makeup for all animals with pedigree. The most interesting outcome of this work is the patterns in prefectural composition over time in the AWA Herdbook – the largest Herdbook
registry outside of Japan (Figure 1).
The picture is clear: the animals identified in the Australian database did not change proportions of different prefectures in any consistent way until about 1997, and from then on there has been a clear increase in % Tajima, to around 50%, with the % across the population for other prefectures being relatively stable since then.
The second question is perhaps the key question – can we use prefectural composition to help us determine or predict genetic merit? We examined this question in a number of ways:
» Observing trends in phenotypic performance to see whether there is any relationship with prefecture
» Analysing the entire performance database to see how well prefecture explains variation, and compare that with how well EBVs explain variation (EBVs based on pedigree relationships)
In terms of trends in phenotypic performance, we found weak associations between Prefecture % and observed carcase weight and observed carcase marbling. Weak means there was an overall pattern, but there is lots of spread around that pattern: the relationship between prefectural composition and the trait is not a very good explanation of what we see.
What do prefectures tell us about the genetics of Wagyu cattle in Australia?
PREFECTURAL ANALYSIS REDUCES THE AVAILABLE DIVERSITY FROM INDIVIDUALS IN EACH PREFECTURE
FIGURE 2
The AWA Herdbook – the largest Herdbook registry outside of Japan.
The result is quite dramatic – prefectural composition is nowhere near as good at predicting performance as is an EBV ...
<<< from page 43
Carcase wt Marbling
Taking this one step further, we determined the relationships between prefectural composition, EBV, or EBV plus prefectural composition, and carcase weight and carcase marbling – in all cases, taking account of contemporary group structure and age of the animal.
The result here is quite dramatic. As shown in Figure 2, prefectural composition is nowhere near as good at predicting performance as is an EBV, and in fact, adding prefecture information to EBV in the analysis reduces the ability to predict genetic merit.
The height of the bars in Figure 2 tells how well that analysis is predicting performance. For example, Prefecture % predicts carcase marbling performance with approximately 12% accuracy, whereas EBV predicts it with approximately 75% accuracy – it’s a much better guide.
An important question is “why is the EBV so much better at predicting performance?” The answer is simple –using prefectural composition is based on assuming that all animals of a particular prefecture are genetically the same, and
100% of prefectural or bloodline information is inherited from the parents. Reducing the available diversity from the 364 individuals down to 7 prefectures or bloodlines results in a significant loss of useful pedigree information that is beneficial for managing genetic gain and maintaining genetic diversity. Prefectural analysis ignores the genetic diversity between individuals of given prefectural composition.
that is simply not the case.
EBVs take account of how good or bad every animal in the population is, and by looking at the performance of related animals, obtains a picture of the value of the genes themselves. (Incidentally, genomics takes this even further).
This also means that knowledge of the actual pedigree (whether as recorded, or as calculated using DNA) is a much better basis for managing inbreeding and diversity – because we track the actual genes of individuals across pedigrees, and pick up differences at that level amongst animals that seem to have the same prefectural makeup.
IN SUMMARY
Prefectural analysis is possible and has been completed but doesn’t add any information you don’t already have either in terms of genetic diversity, inbreeding, or Genetic merit.
Balancing diversity and genetic progress is best done using mate selection (MateSel), based on the information in recorded pedigrees, or genomics, coupled with EBVs.
WAGYUEDGE TOUR
DATA, AN ESSENTIAL PART OF BREEDING DECISIONS
Twenty-two years ago, John and Robin McCosker, under the guidance of Simon Coates, established the Codenwarra Fullblood Wagyu herd through embryo transfer and AI programs. Presently, the Codenwarra herd has more than 1000 registered Fullblood Wagyu cattle with a focus on well-balanced high growth and good carcase quality cattle.
Located in the Emerald region of Central Queensland, Codenwarra has been in the McCosker family since the 1920s and until 2000 included 14 butcher shops and an abattoir. Codenwarra originally ran sheep, Hereford, and later Brahman before John and Robin met with Simon Coates to learn about Wagyu in the late 1990s –this was in the period when Simon conducted field days in conjunction with Elders to espouse the value of Wagyu.
A trip to Japan cemented the idea, and the Codenwarra Fullblood herd commenced in 2000, based largely on the genetics of Michifuku and Hirashigetayasu. John and Robin expanded their operation in 1978 with the purchase Conaghan’s (sold in 2019) to accommodate and grow the Wagyu herd.
Roma Dalby Emerald Gold Coast Rockhampton
<<< from page 47
Codenwarra uses natural matings and the Codenwarra herd now numbers in the order of 350+ Fullblood breeders, turning off 330+ weaners each year. Over the last few years, the steers have been purchased by Marathon Wagyu. Marathon Wagyu, established in 2018, owned and managed by Michael and Sue McCosker used three foundation breeders from Codenwarra as well as outsourced genetics to produce a well-rounded herd based on temperament, growth and carcase traits using AI and ET techniques. Marathon Wagyu purchases the Codenwarra steers at 18 months to be finished through a feedlot with the aim of producing important slaughter data for the herd. This year’s slaughter data averaged 8.7 marble score.
Given the chain of progression through Codenwarra and Marathon, data has become an essential part of breeding decisions to produce the well balanced herd, and valued carcases. This has been achieved by collecting all data from each year’s cohort and submitting into BREEDPLAN, including weight and carcase data.
Marathon, Lake Nash and Codenwarra have overhead and flood irrigated cropping paddocks growing cotton, wheat, chickpea, barley, corn silage, sorghum and oaten hay.
With these cropping abilities, Marathon Wagyu is able to economically grow a high-quality feed ration which backgrounds the animals through to finishing at a feedlot down south which is closer to abattoirs. “This allows us to collect the final and most important lot of data to continue to improve our herd,” Lucy Thomson, daughter of Michael and Sue McCosker.
“With the level of data we collect and submit to BREEDPLAN along with genomics, it gives us a greater level of confidence when selecting future joinings and where we can continue to improve our herd through outsourced genetics,” Laine Thomson, Genetics Manager for Marathon Wagyu.
During the 2021 WagyuEdge conference tour, delegates saw first hand the two herds, but were also highly interested in the weaner education program run by the Marathon Wagyu team.
The program aims to educate and handle animals in a stress-free, safe environment for everyone involved. The result is a herd that knows what to do when the gate is open. The calves are in a paddock within a week of weaning, and the dams are back on grass, regaining condition. For staff, it provides a much safer environment to operate in.
With the level of data we collect and submit to BREEDPLAN along with genomics, it gives us a greater level of confidence when selecting future joinings and where we can continue to improve our herd through outsourced genetics.
Laine Thomson explains, “Joinings are also held back until the heifers are two years old, to give the best possible outcome based on maturity of the animal. Past experience has shown that a more mature heifer is a better mum and holds her condition better when times are a bit tough.
Sadly, the McCosker family farwelled Robin in May this year. Codenwarra Wagyu was built proudly by the late brothers, John and Robin McCosker and their legacy will continue through Codenwarra Wagyu.
CHANGING AND IMPROVING JAPANESE BLACK PRODUCTION AND BREEDING
TWO LEADING JAPANESE PROFESSORS SHARE THEIR INSIGHTS
The WagyuEdge 2021 annual conference was privileged to have two leading Japanese Professors share their insights into production systems and breeding to meet future demand by Japanese consumers of Wagyu beef.
Typically, the production system for Japanese Black in Japan is for animals to be housed in small groups in pens and usually fed a high-concentrate diet from 11 months to 30 months with the aim of producing higher levels of intramuscular fat. During the finishing period, the cattle are provided as much concentrate as possible to fatten for slaughter at 28-30 months.
According to Professor Takafumi Gotoh, the Japanese Black are fed a high energy diet two or three times per day where the feed mix percentage increases from 36.8% to 86.4%, with decreasing volumes of roughage from 11 months to slaughter. Typically, total feed consumption during the fattening period is 4,000-5,000kg/per head.
Professor Kenji Oyama explained that in the past 20 years, carcase traits have changed noticeably, with little change in subcutaneous fat thickness, however the carcase weight has increased by 64kg in the same period.
(Figure 1, see page 51). The change in meat quality are more noticeable in imagery taken during the Zenkyo events, held every five years.
“The photos of marbling in 1987 compared to 2017, show that marbling has increased, when slaughtered at the same age,” said Professor Oyama.
“The top middle image, from 1987 is the winner for the size of the rib eye, while the left was awarded for its marbling. You can see a clear difference when compared to the images of 2017.” (Figure 2 , see page 51).
PROFESSOR KENJI OYAMA RESEARCHER, KOBE UNIVERSITY
Kenji Oyama finished his Bachelor degree at Miyazaki University in 1992, and completed his doctorate at Kobe University in 1997. He is now with the Food Resources Education and Research Center of Kobe University where he is now a professor and manages the University farm, raising approximately 100 Tajima cattle. His interest is in genetic improvement of Wagyu cattle through statistical genetics. He serves as many public committee members. They include national agriculture committee or a head of Central Judgement Committee of Wagyu Registry Association.
PROFESSOR TAKAFUMI GOTOH RESEARCHER KAGOSHIMA UNIVERSITY, GUEST PROFESSOR KYUSHU UNIVERSITY, JAPAN
Professor Gotoh specialises in functional anatomy, nutritional physiology and management of Japanese Black cattle (Wagyu). His research topic is the ‘creation of beef production systems by using metabolic programming in Wagyu’ by understanding marbling and production systems.
FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2
The top middle image, from 1987 is the winner for the size of the rib eye, while the left was awarded for its marbling.
CHANGE OF BEEF MARBLING
Change in carcase traits over the past 20 years.
CHANGE OF CARCASS TRAITS IN JAPANESE BLACK STEERS
The cost to produce a calf to 9 months has increased from AUD$5,000 to AUD$7,000, while finishing a steer has soared to $16,000 from its previous level of $9,000. There are two reasons – first the initial cost of calf itself, plus the price of feed, which represents around 30% of production costs, of which the majority (about 90%) is imported.
However, market surveys suggest that the Japanese consumers no longer prefer heavily marbled beef and the buyer decision is more likely to be around price, freshness,
domestic production, safety and taste.
Heeding the message, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture (MAFF) set targets in 2020 to expand beef production with high yield and rapid growth, while improving production efficiency (including reproduction, feed intake and ability to fatten earlier) and improve the taste of the beef. In addition, strengthening genetic diversity is given special attention.
One measure of beef quality is the monounsaturated fats (MUFA) which Professor Oyama says is collected by some
25 prefectures, some of which use the results to establish beef brands and conduct genetic evaluation.
Further to the changes in production costs and carcase traits, a noticeable downward trend of milk production has occurred, causing calves to be weaker before weaning, which inevitably lead to greater difficulties in raising the calf. Professor Oyama conceded that studies into MUFA and milk production will continue.
Genetic diversity in Japanese Black, has however, become a concern for the MAFF. In the 1940s, each region contributed a more even spread of genetics to the overall herd, but currently, the Hyogo prefecture represents some 50% of the gene pool, while Tottori contributes a further 30%. The remaining genetic diversity is spread among the remaining regions and continues to decrease in population.
...
research will focus on isolating the different strain populations based on relationship coefficient, relatedness and genomic information. This does not mean a prefectural origin focus.
<<< from page 51
“As a consequence, the Hyogo prefecture inbreeding is reaching 25%, the equivalent of progeny produced between father and daughter, or full siblings,” said Professor Oyama.
“This means that the Japanese Black are becoming more homogenous as breeders are choosing sires with prominent traits such as high marbling, and we are losing genetic diversity.” (Figure 3)
To combat the diminishing genetic diversity, research will focus on isolating the different strain populations based on relationship coefficients, relatedness and
genomic information. This does not mean a prefectural origin focus. From there, the idea is to use relationship coefficients and genomic relatedness to equalise the strains where possible, balancing ‘good’ traits to strengthen each strain.
“This is not without its problems as there will always be a trade-off between increasing genetic diversity and promoting specific traits, so a balance will need to be found.
“For many years, Wagyu have responded to the changes in demand from draught animal to premium beef, I am sure, with time that we will resolve many of these issues.”
IMPROVING MEAT QUALITY AND ALTERNATIVE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS
The observations by Professor Oyama on Japanese Black carcase development and consumer preference were reiterated by Professor Takafumi Gotoh particularly increased marbling, but with consumers looking for leaner meat in recent times. The cost of production has increased significantly and created challenges for the industry in Japan. Professor Gotoh sees grass fed production systems as a potential solution toward lowering the cost of production. However, to validate the hypothesis, research has been conducted to assess nutritional management to maintain the current level of desired traits and moderate marbling.
Parts of Japan are home to extensive grazing land. However, Wagyu production on grass in Japan have produced poor beef quality and lower quantities. A strategy was needed to explore the possibility of grass fattening. In the past, Professor Gotoh and his team have performed comparisons between Holstein and Wagyu to assess intramuscular fat under the same production systems. The results showed that Wagyu had a two-fold percentage of IMF compared to Holsteins due to the genetic differences between the two breeds.
GENETIC DIVERSITY OF JAPANESE BLACK
FIGURE 3
Genetic diversity of Japanese black.
By employing the concepts of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD), or metabolic programming, Professor Gotoh believes that nutrition duration during gestation and the early growth stages will affect the constitution of the adult animal.
Using two groups – one was given 60% of nutritional needs, while the second group was given an additional 20% of the nutritional needs during gestation and as a calf.
For the 120% group, the body weight of the foetus was 1.4 times larger; fat weight at 2.1 times; bone weight at 1.2 times and organ weight as much as 1.8 times the 60% group. Professor Gotoh concluded that maternal nutrition did have an impact on IMF, and therefore was an important consideration for grass fed production systems.
By introducing a special milk replacer with high protein and high fat for metabolic programming, a Wagyu calf was fed for three months on the formula before transitioning to feed at 10 months, followed by roughage and grazing to 30 months.
Comparing to a control group, it was clear that the calves in the two groups had significant differences by the age of 10
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T. 02 67294158
E. info@jacwagyu.com.au
months, and at 30 months the body weight was around 50kg different. Marbling of the test group was found to produce satisfactory results.
Analysis of the genes responsible for fat formation showed an increase in expression of these genes up to 10 months of age. Between 11 months and 20 months, the results plateaued before increasing again to 30 months.
“We also have conducted preliminary studies on the rumen of these animals to see if imprinting occurs with the microorganisms, as some can produce energy for growth. We did see evidence that these micro-organisms were present in the metabolic imprint group, but further research is needed,” said Professor Gotoh.
“I believe that metabolic programming would be a good system to maximise the potential of grass-fed Wagyu, with a more sustainable production system. I also believe that this system would not only improve meat quality and quantity but also the immune system, reproduction and temperament of Wagyu. The next research I will undertake will be to look at foetal programming and neonatal, to perhaps produce better quality grass fed wagyu beef.”
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RELIABILITY OF AUSTRALIAN BACKED WAGYU GENETICS SETS A GLOBAL TREND
2021 ELITE WAGYU SALE
The 2021 Australian Wagyu Association’s Elite Wagyu Sale held on 28 April 2021, continued to highlight the global strength of the Association’s Wagyu BREEDPLAN estimated breeding values (EBVs) and genomic analysis to an everincreasing domestic and international Wagyu sector market.
Consistent with prior years, the international interest in the Sale was high, with international buyers bidding on almost all Lots, and taking seven of the 45 Lots on offer – to the UK, Switzerland, Ireland and the US. More than 160 registered bidders participated in the live and online auction.
Topping the sale, was a Fullblood heifer PSKFR0007 from Sunnyside Wagyu, snapped up for $65,000 by Amberoo Wagyu. The 10-month-old heifer whose bloodline traces back through Macquarie Wagyu’s Coates Itoshigenami G113, was recently joined to a son of Macquarie’s Y408, who features in the top 1% of the 600-day weight gain EBV.
The dominance of new generation genetics was on display, including Macquarie Wagyu’s G133 who as a third-generation carcase sire with 127 Fullblood carcase progeny records, has 60% of his progeny achieve a marble score of more than 9.
The semen straws topped the semen lots at $50,000 per straw, sold to US based Synergy Wagyu.
In the bull category, the top price was gained for Olive Grove Wagyu’s OGWFR18, a Fullblood son of Sumo’s Michifuku L195 with a Self-Replacing Index value of more than $300, achieving a $55,000 sale price at the fall of the hammer.
Switzerland’s Marcel Merz continued to strengthen the genetics of his Top Wagyu herd, with the top bid of $2,900 per embryo for a Lot of four embryos offered by Amberoo Wagyu. Of the flush Lots, UK Wagyu buyer Paul Angelides bought two Lots at $18,000 each from Shokunin Wagyu.
Australian Wagyu Association CEO, Dr Matt McDonagh, said that: “It is clear that the international and domestic market for elite Wagyu genetics is strong and has been reflected in the level of interest shown in the 2021 Elite Wagyu Sale, and in recent private Wagyu sales. It is a credit to our members that our Herdbook and EBVs provide the global benchmark for Wagyu Genetic evaluation and the core resource for continued progress in Wagyu.”
SALE RESULTS
Total sales
Sold 40/45 lots – clearance 89%
Total $749,100
Average per lot $18,728
Females
Sold 6/11 lots – clearance 55%
Total $196,500
Average per lot $32,750
Top lot $65,000
Bulls
Sold 6/6 – clearance 100%
Total $164,000
Average per lot $27,333
Top lot $55,000
•
•
• Covered
Embryos
Sold 26/26 (embryos) – clearance 100%
Total $39,400
Average per lot $1,515 per embryo
Top lot $2,900 per embryo
Semen
Sold 184/184 (straws) – clearance 100%
Total $300,700
Average per lot $1,634 per straw
Top lot $50,000 per Straw
Flush
Sold 3/3 – clearance 100%
Total $ 48,500
Average per lot $16,167
2021 – 2031 AWA PROGENY TEST PROGRAM UNDERWAY
WAGYU’S LARGEST PROGENY TEST PROGRAM OUTSIDE OF JAPAN
The 2021 -2031 AWA Progeny Test Program (AWA-PTP) has received tremendous support since it was announced in April at the 2021 WagyuEdge Conference on the Gold Coast. Sire and herd nominations from AWA members have now been completed to enable the first year AWA-PTP breeding program to commence.
There are 262 sires in the AWA BREEDPLAN genetic analysis with 10 or more carcase progeny
The AWA-PTP is specifically designed to add another 250 sires to this number, which will bring the total number of sires with greater than 10 carcase records to more than 500.
If you are a small breeder and have found it difficult to obtain carcase progeny records on your sires, the AWA-PTP will allow you to obtain significant carcase progeny records for your sire. The AWA-PTP was open to sire nominations from all AWA members.
The purpose of the AWA-PTP is to further bolster the already highly successful Wagyu BREEDPLAN genetic analysis and test progeny from promising, emerging Wagyu sires for current and new high-value Wagyu-specific traits. This will be achieved through large-scale testing of sires from the diverse Global Wagyu sector and females from the Australian Wagyu cow herd.
The AWA-PTP will be the key genetic development project for Wagyu for the next decade. The Net Feed Intake (NFI) Sire Progeny test will be expanded through the AWA-PTP, with the expansion of the collection of feed intake data from feedlots with Growsafe units.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Progeny test programs have been the backbone of the beef industry’s genetic improvement for the past 30 years and have demonstrated to be highly beneficial to several other breeds. To date, the AWA has not run a formal progeny test program that has collected data on all traits of importance to the Wagyu breed. Rather, the unique vertical integration and relationships within the Australian Wagyu sector has enabled AWA to build its current genetic database and reference population.
High-quality commercial genotype and performance data continues to be submitted by AWA members into the Wagyu BREEDPLAN genetic evaluation. Data submission of key growth and carcase traits has increased significantly over the 2015 – 2020 period (see article – Third & Fourth Generation Wagyu Proven Sires page 34) and this combined with the introduction of genomics in 2017
Average EBV accuracy for key traits for calves born in each year
FIGURE 1
Average EBV accuracy for calves born each year from 2015 – 2020.
has had a positive influence on increasing the accuracy and reliability of key Wagyu Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) (Figure 1). The AWA Progeny Test Program will consolidate on this progress and provide a formal program which aligns with Goal Two of the 2020 – 2025 AWA Strategic Plan: Advance and Protect Our Critical Genetic Resources.
PROJECT PLAN
The project will run for 10 years from 2021-2031 and aims to join approximately 40 Fullblood Wagyu sires per year to 2,000 Herdbook registered Wagyu females for seven breeding years, to produce seven progeny cohorts. The female progeny from these cohorts will be naturally joined for two breeding years, and the male progeny will all be steered for slaughter (Table 1).
TABLE 1
10-year AWA-PTP Project plan, including seven progeny cohorts that will either be joined for two consecutive years (heifer progeny) or slaughtered (male progeny).
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AWA has partnered with Vetoquinol Australia’s Repro360° to support Contributor Herds with the joining of nominated females through fixed time artificial insemination (FTAI), and Zoetis Animal Health to ensure best practice management of herd health treatments.
All AWA-PTP progeny will be genomically SNP tested and comprehensively performance recorded to provide quality data on existing and new traits for the Wagyu BREEDPLAN analysis and ultimately prove and benchmark the Sires.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
The AWA-PTP will enable the development of accurate data-backed EBVs for about 250 current and new sires, benchmarked against existing high-performance sires.
In addition to carcase trait EBVs, feed efficiency, new meat quality and carcase yield EBVs will be developed for slaughter progeny. For female progeny, new calving ease and fertility EBVs will be the focus. The key objectives of the Project are:
1. Generate comprehensive progeny test data on approximately 250 emerging Wagyu bulls.
2. Capture data on approximately 3,500 female progeny for new and hard to measure traits including female fertility and maternal performance.
3. Capture data on approximately 3,500 steer progeny for feed efficiency and structure as well as new carcase and eating quality traits.
4. Produce high-accuracy EBVs for Project Sires and Contributor Cow Herds which will benefit the rest of the Wagyu population through genetic linkage and the use of genomic analysis.
5. Improve outcomes of breeding decisions and increase rate of genetic gain within the Wagyu breed.
6. Expand the diversity and size of the reference population for the Wagyu breed, leveraging the AWA genomic, pedigree and performance data.
Nominations for AI Sires and Contributor Cow herds closed in July 2021 with sires submitted for consideration and Contributor Herds nominated from a range of Australian production environments.
We have prepared the current average EBV values1 of the nominated 2 sires to share with our members to demonstrate:
1. The high genetic merit of these emerging sires.
2. The benefit our Contributor Herds will receive from participating in the Project.
The average EBV values for the nominated sires can be seen in Table 2 below and it is very encouraging to
2021 – 2031 AWA Progeny Test Program underway
note that, for all traits, the “Sire Ave. EBV” is in the Top 30% or higher when compared to breed average. Once Sires and Contributor Cow Herds have been finalised, it is anticipated that the first round of joining to produce Project progeny (Cohort 1) will begin in Spring 2021 with our Southern-based herds. We look forward to keeping you updated as the Project progresses.
Average EBVs of 2021 AWA-PTP nominated sires are in at least the top 30% of the breed percentile table for the traits listed below, where the breed average is calculated from 2019 born calves.
1
Over the course of the Project, these values are expected to change as trait measures are collected.
2 There is no guarantee that all sires will be accepted to be used in the Project.
TABLE 2
MIJ CARCASE CAMERA
APPROVED BY AUS-MEAT
The MIJ-30 camera will be able to assess marble score for MSA through to 9+ as well as fineness, colour and eye muscle area, important attributes for prime quality beef consumers.
Allan Bloxsom, Chairman of AUS-MEAT
The MIJ-30 digital carcase camera has now been granted conditional approval by AUS-Meat for objective grading for high marbling carcases for marble scores 0-9+.
The camera is the first to be approved by AUS-Meat for the full marbling range. The approval is conditional on maintaining the standards required in the AUS-Meat regulations, which includes documentation for in-plant quality assurance systems and ongoing validation testing.
Developed by Meat Image Japan, the camera has been recognised by the Australian Wagyu Association as an enormous benefit to the Wagyu beef industry for grading of high quality carcases. The AWA identified that MIJ is recognised as the gold standard for marbling and carcase quality grading technologies. The platform was first developed by Professor Keigo Kuchida of Obihiro, based on 30 years of scientific development and evaluation.
Using image capture analysis, the MIJ-30 camera provides measurement on yield, quality colour and fat percentage. More than 30,000 carcases across multiple Australian supply chains have been assessed to build a reference set for the MIJ cloud-based carcase grading system.
As a commercial grading tool, the MIJ-30 is ideal for routine industrial use in supply chains across the full range of marble scores. AWA CEO Dr Matt McDonagh said that the Association has conducted independent trials using the camera extensively across many processor sites during the past three years to develop the Australian reference data for the MIJ analysis and AUS-Meat accreditation.
Professor Kuchida said that a unique attribute of the MIJ30 is its measurement of marbling fineness, which is a key attribute important to Wagyu quality. The proprietary methods for measuring marbling fineness with the MIJ-30
THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS
were established on Wagyu in Japan and form the foundation of quality assessment.
Allan Bloxsom, Chairman of AUS-Meat said that the accreditation of the MIJ-30 is a welcome addition for graders to validate intramuscular fat content in Wagyu.
“Most graders would rarely see Wagyu on a regular basis, so to have technology that enables them to grade higher marbling beef, is a plus,” he said.
“The measurement of IMF takes the guess work out of grading, by giving a scientific measurement that can then be attributed to a marble score. I am sure many in the supply chain will welcome the data available from this system to provide producers and buyers an accurate assessment of the carcase, particularly for a high value product such as Wagyu beef.”
The development of carcase assessment through technology has had a long history in Australia, with ViaScan, E+V and MEQProbe amongst others all undergoing extensive research to reach accreditation level with AUS-MEAT, and others are still in the early stage of development. Each of these systems has limitations, particularly in assessing marble score, with some aiming to meet the standards for MSA grading.
The MIJ-30 camera will now be able to assess the 0-6 marble score for MSA plus higher marble scores (through to 9+) as well as fineness, colour and eye muscle area, important attributes for prime quality beef consumers.
The purpose of an AUS-MEAT objective technology accreditation trial, is to interrogate and validate accuracy, repeatability and reliability of potential new grading technologies against MSA expert graders and industry graders.
To do this, the technology (in this case, a cut-surface grading camera) is evaluated against experienced graders for a given trait as follows for marbling:
1. Data needs to be collected from a minimum or 200 carcases per day over a minimum of three days, giving a minimum analysis set of 600 carcases.
2. In applying for 0 to 9+ Marble Score Accreditation, carcases across the full AUS-MEAT marble score range of 0 to 9+ must be well represented
3. Three different camera units are required to be operated by three different camera operators during the trial to assess between-camera technology repeatability.
4. Each camera is required to image each of the 600 carcases three times to test for within camera repeatability.
5. All 600 carcases must be graded by two MSA expert graders and one industry grader.
6. All camera and grader data are supplied to an independent group for statistical analysis against the minimum requirements published by AUS-MEAT for the specific trait.
7. A report is provided by the independent group to AUSMEAT along with an application for accreditation from the technology owner company.
8. The report is reviewed and approved or otherwise by the Australian Meat Industry Language and Standards Committee prior to AUS-MEAT accreditation.
MIJ-30 HIGH MARBLING (0-9+)
THE PROCESS AND THE FINDINGS
During early 2021, Meat Image Japan (MIJ) in partnership with the Australian Wagyu Association (AWA) applied to the Australian Meat Industries Language and Standards Committee (AMILSC) and AUS-MEAT to accredit the MIJ-30 objective surfacing grading camera. AUS-MEAT provided a list of objectives, standards and processes that would be required to be met before, during and after the accreditation process. A formal accreditation trial was then conducted over 4 days in February 2021 within a major Australian beef processing facility under commercial conditions.
The accreditation was done over a range of Australian beef carcases to ensure that there was a full spread of AUS-MEAT carcase grades to fulfill the statistical and minimal requirements for each AUS-MEAT traits described in the “AMILSC approved minimum requirements of accuracy standards for cut surface cameras”. During the trial, 861 beef carcases were imaged by 3 different camera operators in triplicate. This gave a trial analysis set of 7,749 images. The triplicate images of each of the 3 cameras was used to demonstrate within camera repeatability. Comparing the triplicate images across each of the three cameras showed repeatability between cameras. All MIJ-30 data was compared to industry grading data, which was collected from two expert Meat Standards Australia graders and one independent industry grader.
TRIAL RESULTS
During the four-day trial process, 861 phenotypically diverse carcases were imaged at the 12th-13th rib AUS-MEAT grading site. The carcases were chosen to ensure that there was a statically appropriate distribution to describe accuracy and variation within and between MIJ-30 cameras for the complete 0-9+ AUS-MEAT grading range. The average marble scores for the trial returned by the camera’s were 3.31, 3.16 and 3.28. This gives a difference of averages between camera operator of 0.2 for the whole 0-9+ AUS-MEAT marble score trait range. When comparing the marble score of the MIJ-30 cameras to the expert graders, the result of each camera was within 1 Marble Score of the expert graders 91.1, 93.7, and 91.1% of the time respectively. All data was provided to AUS-MEAT and a report submitted for approval by the AMILSC for 0-9+ accreditation.
DISCUSSION
When comparing the repeatability within camera, or between camera, there were extremely high correlations within replicates taken by each camera and between the different cameras used by independent camera operators. This demonstrates the technology’s ability to supply highly comparable, repeatable and reliable results across the 0-9+ AUS-MEAT marble score range. The AMILSC approved the application for 0-9+ marble score accreditation for the MIJ-30.
