P.PSH.0849 - Genetics R&D: Crossbred Wagyu data capture and analysis Final Report

Summary

The Australian Wagyu Association’s BREEDPLAN analysis historically only used Fullblood Wagyu performance data. With the rapidly growing demand for Fullblood seedstock, Fullblood slaughter animals are becoming more difficult to source.

The purpose of this project was to determine if crossbred Wagyu data can be used in the Wagyu BREEDPLAN analysis. If the data was found to contribute valuable information, it would be included in the single-step Wagyu BREEDPLAN analysis to improve the accuracy of the estimation of the genetic potential of a wide range of Wagyu animals.

Relationships were established with several commercial Wagyu producers and feedlots to secure large groups of animals for this project.

Objectives

• The purpose of this project was to determine the effectiveness of commercial crossbred Wagyu data in the Wagyu BREEDPLAN analysis.
• If AGBU determine the commercial crossbred data contributed significant value, it will be included in the Wagyu BREEDPLAN analysis to contribute additional data to their parent’s EBVs, thus increasing EBV accuracy.

Key findings

After their analysis, AGBU recommended that changes were needed to the Wagyu BREEDPLAN model and genetic groups to ensure crossbred Wagyu animal records were handled appropriately in the analysis. These recommended changes have been implemented and the crossbred Wagyu
animals and their records are now used to estimate more accurate EBVs for all related animals.

As a result of this project, all Wagyu animals will require a SNP parent/sire verification or a SNP genotype (50K to 100K SNPs) before they can be recorded and performance information loaded in the Wagyu database. The parent verification will assist with the accurate recording of parentage which is critical in a genetic analysis. The availability of 50K or 100K genotypes will ensure that
Wagyu breed composition can be determined and, even in the absence of parent verifications, the genomic relationships between crossbred animals can be utilised by the BREEDPLAN analysis.

Benefits to industry

Traditionally after a bull is sold to a commercial producer, the collection of progeny performance data stops, causing the EBVs of the bull to be stagnant. The use of commercial data in Wagyu BREEDPLAN will encourage commercial progeny test programs for the collection of carcase data. This additional data will influence the EBVs and increase the accuracy of the EBVs of commercial bulls and their relatives.

Accurate EBVs assist Wagyu breeders to confidently determine which breeding animals to select and keep in the breeding program. The ability to use the data of commercially produced crossbred Wagyu animals in the Wagyu BREEDPLAN analysis will greatly benefit all sectors of the Australian beef industry which use Wagyu genetics, as it will allow non-performing bulls to be removed from
breeding programs.