Wagyu Newsletter

AWA Friday Newsletter - October 29, 2021

POSTED: 10/29/2021
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Performance Data, Herd Health, Carcass Quality Stressed at Wagyu Conference
Complete reporting essential to Wagyu breed improvement.
By Burt Rutherford

“It’s tempting to report information only on your best performing animals,” according to Dr. Mark Enns, geneticist at Colorado State University (CSU) and director of the Western Center for Resource Management. “But eliminating the bottom end makes your best animals look worse.”

Speaking at the 2021 American Wagyu Association annual conference in Fort Collins, Colo., Enns showed Wagyu seedstock producers how that works. Using basic genetics and mathematics, Enns showed that by not reporting data on the bottom 25 percent of a contemporary group of bulls, breeders lose 60 percent of the accuracy in their genetic prediction efficiency. That means you could choose the wrong sire, he emphasized.

Looking at herd management from a health perspective, Frank Garry, DVM, professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences at the CSU College of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences and director of the Integrated Livestock Management program, cautioned Wagyu breeders to implement a strong biosecurity program on their operations to prevent importing disease.

Bring cattle on your operation from known sources and with a known health background, he said. Beyond that, use your veterinarian as a herd health consultant. “Optimal animal health requires a shift in how we use veterinarians as part of our management team.” In addition to animal health and genetics, Wagyu breeders turned their attention to carcass quality and grading. Kenichi “Ken” Katoh, renown Japanese butcher and restaurateur, showed breeders how he fabricates and cuts a Wagyu carcass to best utilize different cuts.

Because of Wagyu’s exceptional beef quality, Katoh said he can produce 60 different cuts from a side of Wagyu beef, including cuts that are traditionally ground into hamburger in the U.S. But because of the marbling and tenderness inherent in Wagyu genetics, even cuts perceived as tougher in the U.S. can successfully meet consumer expectations.

Dr. Bucky Gwartney, international marketing specialist with USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, explained to Wagyu breeders how beef carcass grading works. The purpose behind grading, he said, is to identify differences in value and report those differences in a common language and transmit value signals to the marketplace.

In today’s world of science and technology, more than 70 percent of beef carcasses are graded using a camera. But each beef carcass is also evaluated by a human and the USDA grader has the final say in calling the grade, whether it be Prime, Choice or Select, he said.

Entries for North American International Livestock Show

Attached is the sign-up form for the Wagyu Show in Kentucky, North American Intentional Livestock Expo (NAILE). This year our show will be on November 17, 2021 at the Broadbent Arena at the Louisville, Kentucky Exposition Center.

Also attached are the Wagyu pages from the premium book with the classes listed. Deadline for registration is November 1, 2021.

Please fill out the entry form attached and send it in via email to office@wagyu.org as soon as possible. If you have any questions at all please contact Martha at the office. 208-262-8100.

Parking fees and Exhibitor passes will be addressed in a later email. We look forward to seeing you there.
Click Here to View Registration Form
Click Here to View Class Listings

Did You Know?

Unresolved Artificial Inseminations

Did you know that you can keep track of your unresolved AI records?

If you have recorded use of straws for bulls through your Semen Inventory menu, the registered females that have been bred via AI service, but do not yet have a recorded breeding result will be listed under the Unresolved Artificial Inseminations Menu.

Go to Herd Mgmt: Breeding: AI Service to bring up this menu to view your females with unresolved breeding results.

The table will list the information for the specific female that was AI’d, including the tattoo, name, and registration number. The date of AI record will also be listed, as well as the AI sire information for the straw that was recorded to be used for this female.

An expected Calving date range will be listed, calculated based on the date of the AI service.

There are two options to record the breeding result from this AI service:

Open: If the AI did not take, and the female was found to be open, you can click the breeding result ‘Open’.

Calf: If the female calved as a result of this AI service, click ‘Calf’. A birth recording table will be generated for you to enter the birth information for the resulting calf. Go to Work Queues: Birth Recording to bring up the birth recording table. The dam and sire registration numbers, as well as the AI Service type will auto-fill based on the breeding record.

To edit or correct the AI date, click the ‘Edit’ button to the right of the table, and the ‘Edit Insemination’ menu will appear. Enter the new or correct date of the AI and hit ‘Save’ to apply the change. If the straw use was recorded in error, click ‘Delete’ to remove the incorrect AI record.

Vermont Wagyu
Production Sale & Guest Consignments

October 23rd, 2021
Springfield, Vermont

Sale Manager: James Danekas & Associates, Inc.

Auctioneer: C. D. “Butch” Booker

Internet Venue: LiveAuctions.tv

Averages:

10 Bulls $9,150.00

35 Yearling Heifers $9,150.00

21 Cows $6,550.00

8 Cow/Calf Pairs $10,250.00

9 Embryos $790.00/embryo

A brisk beautiful fall morning started sale day with the arrival of many excited participants. The historic barn in which the auction was held was packed. Online buyers were many and very active. In all, the sale was a huge success for both the seller and the buyers. The crowd was treated to a pre-sale social plus an interactive presentation by the host of Vermont Wagyu. Sale day began with very insightful talks by industry experts which was then followed by an amazing spread for lunch. The sale kicked off with excitement which set the tone for the entire auction. The crowd was very active, and the long list of internet buyers added much competition.
View Full Report Here


Wagyu Swag
Whether you’re interested in something for yourself or a gift for your customers, we have several items to choose from. With each purchase you are helping support your association and proudly support this great Wagyu breed.

wagyu.org/consumers/shopwagyu
Share a Favorite Photo
We make lots of memories with family, friends and Wagyu cattle! What activities have you been up to on the farm? Send us a picture and we will chose one to feature in an upcoming newsletter!
AWA Calendar
January 1, 2022 - Start of 2022 Membership Renewal
January 1, 2022 - Spring CAR Enrollment Starts
February 1, 2022 - Spring CAR enrollment fees Increase
April 1, 2022 – Annual Membership Renewal – Late Fees Apply
May 1, 2022 – Fall CAR Enrollment Starts
June 30, 2022 – Fall CAR Enrollment Deadline – Fees Increase July 1

Upcoming Industry Events/Livestock Shows
November 2-18, 2021 – NAILE – Wagyu Show – Louisville, KY
January 8-23, 2022 – NWSS – Wagyu Show – Denver, CO
February 1 – 3, 2022 – NCBA Trade Show – Houston, TX
February 28 – March 20, 2022 – Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo – Houston, TX

Upcoming Member Events
October 30, 2021 – Studwagyuauction(dot)com - Steer Mania (Fullblood Steers) - Online
November 6, 2021 – Texas Wagyu Association - Fall Harvest Event - Luling, Texas
November 20, 2021 – Studwagyuauction(dot)com - Select Frozen Genetics - Online
January 8, 2022 – Mile High Wagyu Experience Denver, CO
March 19, 2022 – Triangle B Ranch - 14th Annual Spring of Opportunities Sale - Stigler, OK
March 26, 2022 – A5 Wagyu Production Sale - Virginia
March 26, 2022 – The Top Shelf Collection - Genomic Marvels at their Finest - Luling, TX
April 9, 2022 – M6 Ranch Wagyu - Bull Battery Sale - Alvarado, Texas
April 23, 2022 – 13th Annual "The Steaks are High" Texas Wagyu Association Sale – Salado, TX
May 14, 2022 – Diamond T Ranch Production Sale - Jacksonville, TX
May 28, 2022 – Bar R Ranch Wagyu Production Sale - Pullman, WA
June 4, 2022 – Passion For Prime - Salina, Kansas

To post an upcoming event or to advertise your event with a live link, please contact the AWA Office.

Helpful Links

Stockmanship & Stewardship
Beef Quality Assurance
Beef Improvement Federation
Masters of Beef Advocacy
National Education Center for Agricultural Safety
Beef Cattle Community
eBEEF

Advertise with the AWA
The American Wagyu Association offers many ways members can advertise their genetics and products through AWA services. These include Face Book, Premium Advertising Page, eBlasts, Classifieds, the Annual Breeders Guide and other opportunities. Contact the AWA office for more information or visit wagyu.org/members/advertising-services



Download our advertising fee schedule



Robert Williams, Ph.D.
Executive Director

Contact us at office@wagyu.org for any advertising inquires.
Visit us at wagyu.org for more information about the Wagyu breed.