Wagyu

Wagyu is the collective name of the four main Japanese beef breeds, renowned worldwide for their highly marbled, premium-quality meat.

Australia received its first Wagyu genetics in 1990, with fullblood cattle arriving in 1997. The Australian Wagyu Association (AWA), the largest breed association outside Japan, has supported genetic improvement for over 30 years and now represents more than 1,000 members across 30 countries. The AWA maintains the world’s largest Wagyu database, with over 22,000 sires and 150,000 dams registered.

Wagyu arrived in New Zealand in the early 1990s, with the first purebred calf born in 1992 and the New Zealand Wagyu Breeders Association formed the same year.

Genomic testing for the Wagyu industry

We are proud to partner with the Australian Wagyu Association to provide affordable, accessible and accurate genomic testing solutions for both commercial and seed stock producers.

“This collaboration with Weatherbys opens up real opportunities for our members as genotyping strengthens the accuracy of Estimated Breeding Values, enhances transparency and gives buyers confidence in what they’re purchasing,” Dr McDonagh said.

We invest in cutting-edge technologies that empower producers to make breeding decisions that are faster, smarter, and more profitable.

Wagyu testing options

Cattle Parentage Verification

Cattle parentage testing uses DNA analysis to accurately identify the sire and dam of an animal. By comparing genetic markers from calves and potential parents, the test provides a reliable confirmation of pedigree, helping producers to:

Improve breeding accuracy
Preserves the integrity of breeding records
Enables efficient herd management
Identifies underperforming animals, educating culling decisions
Long term genetic improvement within herds

Bovine VERSA 85K

85,000 SNPs of specifically selected Bos Taurus and Bos Indicus content for Australian and New Zealand operations. The Bovine VERSA 85K has been developed to increase accuracies for all breeds of cattle when used in genetic evaluations, translating directly into real value on farm.

Wagyu Trait Analysis

Benefits:

Identifying traits to inform management decisions and increase overall productivity.

Reduce and/or eradicate
- Fatal Disease
- Unwanted traits

Increase
- Valuable traits

Wagyu Specific Traits On Offer:

Annexin A10
Factor XI deficiency (F11)
Chediak Higashi Syndrome (CHS)
Poll/Horn
Dilution Factor
Stearoyl Coa Desaturase (SCD)
Coat Colour (Black & Red)
Isoleucyl-tRNA Synthetase Disorder (IARS)
Hepatocellular Fibrinogen Storage Disease
Spherocytosis (B3)
Perinatal Weak Calf Syndrome

Bundles:

Breeder Bundle: includes Genomic SNP, A10, F11, CHS, B3 and IARS

Elite Breeder Bundle: includes Genomic SNP, F11, CHS, B3, IARS, Poll, Coat Colour, Dilution Factor and CL16

Comprehensive Bundle: includes Genomic SNP, F11, CHS, B3, IARS, Poll, SCD, Coat Colour and Dilution Factor

Standard Bundle: includes Genomic SNP, F11, CHS, B3 and IARS

Integrate your data into the Australian Wagyu Association

The Weatherbys Scientific Bovine VERSA 85K SNP Chip is an excellent fit for integration into Wagyu Breeding Values launched by the Australian Wagyu Association (AWA), enabling the calculation of genomically enhanced breeding values.

Genomically enhanced breeding values provide key advantages, including:

Greater accuracy in selection decisions – Improve the reliability of breeding values by incorporating high-resolution genomic data.
Earlier selection opportunities – Confidently select young animals based on accurate genomic predictions before performance data is available.
Selection across more traits – Include traits that are difficult or impossible to measure on-farm, or before animals enter the breeding herd, within your decision-making process.

By enabling more accurate selection, at younger ages, and across a wider range of traits, the VERSA 85K SNP Chip supports faster genetic progress and ultimately enhances productivity and profitability within a Wagyu breeding operation.