HUNDREDS of Wagyu breeders and other supply chain stakeholders from across Australia and overseas will converge on Melbourne in April for the Australian Wagyu Association’s 2022 annual conference.

Bringing together industry stakeholders from around the world, this year’s event will take place at Melbourne’s Pullman Albert Park Hotel from April 26-28.

In addition to a two and a half day conference and workshop program featuring first class speakers from the Australian industry and overseas, the event features a range of social gatherings, an elite Wagyu genetics sale and gala dinner incorporating the 2022 Wagyu Branded Beef Competition awards.

The conference is designed as an opportunity to bring together all components of the Wagyu sector in a forum of learning and networking to help advance the Wagyu industry. Delegates will gain Wagyu-specific knowledge from specialist conference speakers, as well as appreciating the role Wagyu plays at the leading edge of high-value global beef markets.

Topics range from Wagyu production, to genetics, nutrition, animal health and marketing.

A trade expo is run in conjunction with the conference to enable Wagyu supply chain partners and service providers to connect with existing and new customers.

Geoff Willett was inducted into the AWA Hall of Fame Award last year, pictured here receiving congratulations from Alan Hoey and AWA president Charlie Perry at the 2021 conference o the Gold Coast.

Day one of the conference program on 27 April will cover Australia’s position within the global Wagyu sector, animal health issues and case study information from some of Australia’s best-known and more successful Wagyu operators. The day will also include the induction of this year’s Wagyu Industry Hall of Fame recipient, and 25 Year Membership awards. Last year’s Hall of Fame inductee was veteran Queensland Wagyu breeder and lotfeeder, Geoff Willett.

The first day of the conference will be rounded out by the Elite Wagyu Sale and a cocktail evening.

The Elite Wagyu Sale is exclusively for animals representing the top 5pc of Wagyu EBVs of bulls, females, semen and embryos and special interest/rare genetics from around the world. Click here for details. 

Day Two of the conference program on 28 April will focus on the latest in Wagyu research and development from across the world. The Gala Dinner and Wagyu Branded Beef Competition Awards ceremony will conclude the conference on the final night. More on conference speakers in an upcoming item.

Technical workshop

Preceding the formal conference program will be a half-day workshop held on the afternoon of Tuesday, 26 April.

The technical workshop will also provide an update from the Australian Wagyu Association, covering the latest in Association initiatives. The Membership Services team will be on hand to sit down to address any member related questions.

The first day will conclude with a Wagyu Edge welcome dinner that includes the announcement of the 2022 Wagyu Net Feed Intake award winners and a Charity Auction.

Post conference field tour

A one-day post-conference bust tour will take place from the morning of 29 April, including a visit to the Falls Pastoral Wagyu herd at Longwood East, and Stone Axe Pastoral’s Wagyu herd at the magnificent Cobungra Station in the Victorian high country.

Click this link for full conference details and registrations

Click the link below to view a short video