US chases maternal lines as the Elite Wagyu sale hits $95,000

Wagyu breeders are chasing maternal genetics, after an annual elite sale reached nearly $100,000 for a top female.

A Wagyu female sold for $95,000 at the Australian Wagyu Association’s annual Elite Wagyu sale.

The sale had a 70 per cent clearance with 31 of 44 lots selling to $95,000, for an average of $26,142, with semen securing the highest clearance rate.

Almost 100 registered buyers, including 20 overseas bidders, competed for the 44 lots on offer.

The top priced female was, LTCF23U300, a full-blood Wagyu offered by Circle8 Wagyu, Marulan, NSW.

The 21-month-old female was pregnancy-tested-in-calf with a male calf and has Estimated Breeding Values of +10.6sq cm for eye muscle area, compared to the breed average of +3.3 and a marble score of +3.9, compared to the average of +1.4.

AWA chief executive Dr Matt McDonagh, Carmen Cooper - Circle8, Jeremy Cooper - Circle8, Keith Hay - Geneflow, David Felsch - Ray White Livestock Dalby, Amy Felsch - Ray White Livestock Dalby and guest auctioneer Lincoln McKinlay. Picture: Supplied

Circle8 owner and fourth-generation beef producer Jeremy Cooper said the heifer’s strong genetics was reflective of years of careful selection and innovation.

“Our focus on preparation and marketing really shone through — proving that you don’t need to be the biggest to be competitive,” Mr Cooper said.

AWA chief executive Dr Matt McDonagh said the sale was solid and a realistic reflection of current commercial conditions,

He said buyers sought after maternal genetics, top-ranking marbling and rib eye genetics.

“Quality in elite semen and embryo lots was recognised, and high value was placed on genetics geared towards top-end commercial and seedstock production,” Dr McDonagh said.

Ray White Livestock Dalby livestock agent David Felsch said females were strong, but bulls and genetics were indicative of the current market.

The Elite Wagyu Sale is open to only animals representing the top 5 per cent of Wagyu EBVs in each trait category (carcass, growth and maternal), and a Breed $Index in the top 1 per cent as registered with the Australian Wagyu Association.