Wagyu Feeder Check
Developed in Australia, by Australians, for use in Wagyu content beef cattle. Suitable for Wagyu content cattle that are Wagyu x high content Bos taurus genetics.
Now enhanced with Generation II: Wagyu Feeder Check V2 (Generation II) includes a larger and more diverse reference population, improved genetic predictions, and broader suitability for Wagyu-cross cattle, including those with Bos indicus influence.
Wagyu Feeder Check is a genomic tool developed alongside CSIRO in partnership with the Australian Wagyu Association (AWA), aimed at improving the resilience and sustainability of Australia’s Wagyu beef export sector.
Wagyu Feeder Check is a commercial DNA genomic test designed for Wagyu content beef cattle to determine low genetic merit animals and help eliminate these from long-fed feedlot finishing programs. This genomic test will optimise resource use efficiency, increase drought adaptability, and improve profitability and resilience in the high-value Australian Wagyu Beef export beef sector.
The latest version, Wagyu Feeder Check V2 (Generation 2), a more advanced genomic tool was launched at WagyuEdge 2025 in Perth. It builds on the original Wagyu Feeder Check system to provide more comprehensive genetic predictions for Wagyu and Wagyu-cross cattle. Wagyu Feeder Check V2 features a larger and more diverse reference population, more accurate genetic predictions. It is now suitable for a broader range of Wagyu-cross cattle, including those with Bos indicus content.
With over 17,000 animals in the updated genomic reference population, the new generation of Wagyu Feeder Check delivers stronger prediction accuracy and greater value across a wider range of production systems.
The reference population includes 20% purebred Wagyu, 60% Wagyu/Angus cross, 15% Wagyu/Bos indicus, and 5% Wagyu/Holstein and Wagyu/Bos taurus animals.
Wagyu Feeder Check reports genetic merit for five traits:
- Feedlot Average Daily Gain
- Carcase Weight
- Subcutaneous Fat Depth
- Eye Muscle Area
- Marble Score
Additionally, a Wagyu Feeder Index is reported, predicting the overall commercial value ranking of each individual animal in a typical Wagyu long fed feedlot finishing program, based on the respective animal’s genetic merit across all five individual traits.
Sire verification will also be provided for any progeny of sires that have genomic profiles recorded with the Australian Wagyu Association.
Wagyu Feeder Check is ordered through the Australian Wagyu Association (AWA).
Before an order can be placed, you need to
- a) become a member of the AWA (if you aren’t already), and
- b) create an account on the Wagyu Feeder Check database (click here).
Once you have done this, you are ready to submit your request to the AWA through the Wagyu Feeder Check database. Once your request has been lodged, you need to send your samples to Neogen with the required documents for processing.
Once your results are ready, you will receive an email notification telling you that you can access your results from the Wagyu Feeder Check database.
- Collect TSU samples on the animals you want to test (TSU number and EID/Animal ID to be recorded)
- Submit your request to the AWA through the Wagyu Feeder Check database
- Send your samples to Neogen with the required documents
- Await your results to be reported through the Wagyu Feeder Check database.
The Australian Wagyu Association has a genomic database containing genomic profiles for over 70,000 registered sires. This database will be searched and sire verification provided for any animals sired by a registered sire with a genomic profile in the AWA genomic database.
Using the Wagyu Feeder Check Verify function in the Wagyu Feeder Check database, you can sort animals within your data report by sire where the sire has been identified from the AWA database. Once you have carcase data reported for your feeder groups, you can identify high and low performing sires within your groups to further improve future management decisions. For example, eliminating low performing sires from your feeder groups or targeting high performing sires for future feeder groups.
The Wagyu Feeder Index predicts the overall commercial value ranking of each individual animal in a typical Wagyu long fed feedlot finishing program, based on the respective animal’s genetic merit across all five individual traits.
The weightings placed on each individual trait are highly aligned to the Wagyu F1 $index published in Wagyu BREEDPLAN, and are as follows:
The Wagyu Feeder Index is provided as a generic sorting and ranking tool. Customers wishing to vary the weighting and create their own index can do so by downloading the individual trait rankings from the Wagyu Feeder Check database, and applying customed weightings to each trait to create their own proprietary index.
Industry deployment of the test delivers a step change in optimizing management strategies to meet profitability and sustainability targets in the Wagyu industry.
Wagyu Feeder Check is aimed to support supply chain participants who produce export market quality for Wagyu beef using a grow out period, typically around 350 – 400 days.
Wagyu Feeder Check provides you with the ability to test feeders at feedlot entry to estimate low genetic merit carcase performance animals. Animals in your induction groups can be ranked for genetic merit on five feedlot and carcase performance traits and on the Wagyu Feeder Index, a weighted index ranking animals on estimated profitability.
Animals that can be identified as not meeting the performance criteria for a supply chain can be drafted into short-feeding programs or other endpoints, saving on resource use and investment of capital.
- Carcase Weight (HCW): Higher Carcase Weight rankings indicate the animal is expected to have a heavier hot (or unchilled) carcase weight after slaughter.
- Subcutaneous Fat Depth (P8FAT): Higher Subcutaneous Fat Depth rankings indicate the animal is expected to have less subcutaneous fat depth over the rump at the P8 measurement site.
- Marble Score (MARB): Higher Marble Score rankings indicate the animal is expected to have a higher AUSMEAT marbling score.
- Eye Muscle Area (EMA): Higher Eye Muscle Area rankings indicate the animal is expected to have more muscle, and a larger eye muscle area.
- Wagyu Feeder Index (WFI): Higher Wagyu Feeder Index rankings indicate the animal is expected to have higher overall profitability in a typical Wagyu long fed feedlot finishing program, based on their genetic merit across all five individual traits.
- Sire Verification: sire verification against over 70,000 Fullblood and Purebred males will be provided.
Wagyu Feeder Check is suitable for use on Wagyu F1 animals that are Wagyu x high content, Bos Taurus genetics, principally Wagyu x Angus F1 animals.
Further research is required to determine the predictive ability of the product in Wagyu x Bos indicus, or Wagyu x Dairy animals. Contact staff at the AWA or Neogen to discuss testing options for animals in this category.
Straight bred or purebred Wagyu animals are more suited to analysis in Wagyu BREEDPLAN, rather than with Wagyu Feeder Check.
The genetic effects table below cross references the differences in trait ranking with the genetic differences between animals in real terms. The genetic effects table can be used to predict the differences in performance that would be expected between animals.
| Rank | ADG | HCW | EMA | MARB | P8FAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.00 | 0.0 |
| 2 | 0.043 | 12.3 | 1.8 | 0.43 | 1.8 |
| 3 | 0.085 | 24.5 | 3.6 | 0.86 | 3.6 |
| 4 | 0.128 | 36.8 | 5.4 | 1.29 | 5.4 |
| 5 | 0.171 | 49.0 | 7.2 | 1.71 | 7.3 |
| 6 | 0.214 | 61.3 | 9.0 | 2.14 | 9.1 |
| 7 | 0.256 | 73.5 | 10.8 | 2.57 | 10.9 |
| 8 | 0.299 | 85.8 | 12.5 | 3.00 | 12.7 |
| 9 | 0.342 | 98.0 | 14.3 | 3.43 | 14.5 |
| 10 | 0.384 | 110.3 | 16.1 | 3.86 | 16.3 |
