Corporate Information

AWA Constitution, Strategic Plan, Bylaws and Appeals Policy

The Australian Wagyu Association governing documentation is outlined within these documents and provides directives on how we operate.

The 2022 Australian Wagyu Association Constitution was passed by members during the 2022 Annual General Meeting on 15th November and came in to effect as the new Australian Wagyu Association Constitution.

A 2020 review of the AWA governance has resulted in a legally verified set of documents that includes a Governance Charter, Complaints Policy and Procedures, and Terms of Reference to form the Corporate Policies and Procedures guidelines.

AWA Bylaws

The Bylaws define our day-to-day operations, the responsibilities of our Members and updated regularly in alignment with AWA Board directives.

Strategic Plan 2020-2025

The Australian Wagyu Association Board has collaborated with the Haines Centre for Strategic Management throughout 2019 to deliver the direction and priorities for the organisation through the new AWA 2020-2025 Strategic Plan.

The AWA Strategic Plan 2020-2025 has been developed alongside the Meat Industry Strategic Plan 2030.  The Board has committed to a new corporate focus on serving its member to “Support, Promote and Advance Wagyu Production”.

To recognise the links between the AWA and members that span the full Wagyu supply chain, the AWA has evolved its tagline and bulls-head logo to capture the position for Wagyu as ‘advancing the world’s luxury beef”.

AWA Appeals Policy

The Australian Wagyu Association undertakes formal investigations in a transparent and objective manner, in accordance with the principles of natural justice.

If the Board investigates any matter covered by the Constitution and/or Bylaws, the member will always receive a copy of the investigation report for a response, before a decision is made.

Once the Board has made a decision, the member will be notified in writing, including any actions imposed.

Appealing the Decision of the Board

The member may appeal the decision by applying to the Australian Wagyu Association within 21 days of the date of the Board’s determination.

AWA Complaints Policy

The Australian Wagyu Association Limited has a formal complaints policy and procedure for assessing complaints made by members.  The policy sets out how complaints relating to AWA affairs may be made and how they will be dealt with.

Any complaint, relating to an AWA matter or the registration of an animal or dealing with a registered animal, about a member or Board member or a person or matter related to the business of the AWA must be reduced to writing by the complainant and contain the particulars of any allegation(s) on which the complaint is founded.

The complaint must then be submitted by email, together with substantiating proof of the allegation/s on which the complaint is founded, addressed as follows:

Complaints Officer

Australian Wagyu Association Limited

[email protected]

Important Notice and Disclaimer


It is very important that you appreciate when viewing the AWA database that the information contained on the AWA database, including but not limited to pedigree, DNA information, Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) and Index values, is based on data supplied by members and/or third parties.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information reported through AWA, AWA officers and employees assume no responsibility for its content, use or interpretation. AWA disclaims all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs you may incur as a result of the use by you of the data on this AWA database and the information supplied by ABRI and AGBU being inaccurate or incomplete in any way for any reason.

Regarding EBVs and Index values, it is very important to appreciate, and you need to be aware that:

  • EBVs are derived using Wagyu Single Step BREEDPLAN technology developed independently by the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU), using the information contained within the AWA database.
  • AGBU is a joint venture of NSW Department of Primary Industries and the University of New England, which receives funding for this purpose from Meat and Livestock Australia Limited.
  • AWA relies solely on advice provided by AGBU and ABRI in accepting Wagyu Single Step BREEDPLAN software.
  • EBVs published in Wagyu Single Step BREEDPLAN are estimates of genetic potential of individual animals and may not reflect the raw animal phenotype.
  • EBVs can only be directly compared to other EBVs calculated in the same monthly Wagyu Group BREEDPLAN analysis.

Regarding pedigree and DNA testing results submitted to the AWA, it is very important to appreciate, and you need to be aware that:

  • Pedigree and DNA data submitted and supplied to AWA may have errors in it which cannot be detected without further DNA testing.
  • Technology may have advanced since a particular test was undertaken so that previous inaccuracies which were not detectable are now able to be detected by current testing technology.
  • AWA estimates that less than 1% of the pedigree entries, ownership or breeding details in the AWA Herdbook may have errors or which may be misleading. For this reason, users ought to consider if they need to obtain independent testing of the relevant animal (if possible) to ensure that the data is accurate.

Regarding prefectural content, it is very important to appreciate, and you need to be aware that:

  • Prefectural content is based on the estimation of prefectural origin from Japanese breeding records of 201 foundation sires and 168 foundation dams.  As genotype-based parent verification is not used in Japan, and full Japanese registration certificates are not available for all foundation animals, exact prefectural composition for these sires and dams cannot be validated.
  • The calculation of prefectural content for Australian Herdbook animals relies on the accuracy of pedigree records and DNA samples provided by AWA members.
  • The reporting of prefectural content for animals within the AWA Herdbook relies on the calculation provided by ABRI.

If you consider that you do not understand or appreciate the nature and extent of the data provided on this website or the EBVs of a particular animal, then AWA strongly recommends that you seek independent expert advice.