The Australian Wagyu Association’s Elite Wagyu Sale has become the international Wagyu industry’s leading seedstock sale, attracting high interest from international vendors and buyers in the last three annual events.
In recognition of the strong global demand, the Australian Wagyu Association has today expanded the elite sale program to a southern hemisphere Spring and Autumn format, giving two sales per year.
The Australian Wagyu Association CEO Dr. Matt McDonagh said the demand levels are clearly underwritten by the unique strength of AWA genomic analysis.
“AWA released genomic analysis for the global wagyu industry in 2018. In the past three years, our members have conducted more than 70,000 genomics tests and more than 80% of animals registered in the last year used 50K genomics.
“This provides unparalleled genomic coverage within our Single-Step Wagyu BREEDPLAN analysis. The Australian Wagyu Association is also unique amongst its seedstock sector peers in that it operates an international genetic evaluation service.”
AWA has members from 20 countries that are international cattle breeders that register Fullblood Wagyu with the AWA. The AWA enables its members to demonstrate integrity in their claims relating to Fullblood Wagyu through its pedigree database, which is the largest outside of Japan.
Dr McDonagh said the level of global interest in AWA Single-Step Wagyu BREEDPLAN EBVs and the Elite Wagyu Sale has been clearly evident in the results from the last three annual Elite Wagyu Sales.
The decision to hold a Spring Sale in addition to the Autumn event will provide the global Wagyu sector with improved access to the elite Wagyu gene pool. The Elite Wagyu Sale – Spring 2020, will be held on 29 October 2020.
In previous Sales, interest from Vendors has been well above the cap of 100 Lots; moving forward, the Sale will be capped at 70 Lots, enabling 140 Lots annually to be presented to potential buyers from around the world across the two sales.
Live animals and genetics will represent the top 5% of the Wagyu breed, as listed in Wagyu BREEDPLAN, and with that in mind the Elite Wagyu Sale – Spring 2020 will introduce updated entry regulations to improve the quality and diversity provided within the sale catalogue.