Excitement is steadily building for the 10th Australian Wagyu Association (AWA) Elite Wagyu Sale being held on April 28 on the afternoon of day two of the WagyuEdge 2021 Annual Conference and Tour.
AWA CEO Matt McDonagh said the sale will be conducted live and online, with auctioneer Harvey Wayman-Jones of GDL to utilise the Elite Livestock Auctions platform.
"Lots will be limited to around 50, to ensure that the sale captures the highest possible calibre of elite Wagyu genetics," Mr McDonagh said.
"This year's sale will continue to place an emphasis on genetic improvement and as such will focus on multiple traits in the top five per cent of EBV for Wagyu (carcase, growth and maternal) and the top one per cent of Breed $Indexes for live animals and genetics registered with the AWA," he said.
Mr McDonagh said the AWA holds the largest registry of Fullblood Wagyu cattle outside of Japan and provides a global genomic analysis to its members in more than 20 countries.
"Increasingly, vendors and buyers are outside Australia, with 2020's top Sales going to Switzerland, the UK and the US.
"The diversity of buyers extends from seedstock producers wishing to develop Fullblood Wagyu genetics in their own region, to those wishing to improve genetic diversity for commercial Wagyu production systems and Wagyu beef."
He said the 2020 sale continued to show that elite Wagyu genetics are in high demand, with more than 500 potential buyers from around the world - 146 from 11 countries - actively took part in the bidding process.
"By continuing to refine the requirements for entry into the Elite sale, we can provide a platform for the leading edge of Wagyu genetics to a global audience."
Pre-sale inspections of the lots can be arranged directly with the vendors. The catalogue will be available on the AWA website, and via Elite Livestock Auctions from April 7, 2021.
