Buying Wagyu Bulls In Australia

- Best Buying
- Improved Returns
- Wagyu Bull Selection
   - Weights
   - Scrotal Measurement
   - Frame Score
- Serving Capability & Capacity
- Management
- Links

Best Buying

Picture: An 18mo 001 son.

Yearling bulls (12-18 months) can do the job at less upfront cost, provide a better return on bull buying budgets over time, be easier to manage and provide potential for faster genetic gain for the whole herd.

For an expert Australian advisory, go straight to Yearling bulls - tapping their immense potential | NSW Department of Primary Industries.  

Read on for some excellent reasons to consider young Wagyu sires, starting with ‘first pick’ at top genetics.  Click here to see current young Bulls for Sale

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Improved Returns

Yearling bulls are generally less expensive.   The budget can be stretched to more bulls, providing better cover for high levels of attrition common in Australia.  Bull working life may be increased by a year, with the cost of fitter, structurally stronger sires spread over more calves, thereby increasing profitability.   The rate of genetic improvement within the herd can also be increased, further building overall herd profitability.

It should not be overlooked that 2 year old and older bulls may be last year’s left-yearling leftovers.  Buying yearlings ensures ‘first picking’ of genetics.

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Wagyu Bull Selection

Pic: Rising yearling fullbloods

See the Selection Table with our Bulls For Sale.  You can quickly identify sires for feeders for F1, F2 or greater; for fullbloods and for building dam lines.

Looking at the physical: weight and frame in young Black Wagyu will vary depending on the combination of bloodlines as noted in Wagyu In Japan.  To provide an indication of mature size, you will find breeding line combinations for each in 16/16 analysis in addition to weights/growth prediction data.

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Weights for Australian Wagyu Bulls

Picture: Young Wagyu bulls

Wagyu are bred to be fed. Weight and weight gain is an important part of bull selection in Japan, where prospective AI sires are fed a standard diet for measurement of daily gain and feed efficiency performance.   To enable similar evaluation, we have provided ADG data on young Bulls For Sale.
Due to the current lack of objective cross herd information (EBVs) for the breed, there is little reliable benchmarking data to determine “average” weights for Australian Wagyu bulls. . However, one US scientific study  measured an average yearling weight of 305kg over 49 fullblood bulls at a single location. (See Sosa, Singer & Reeves: 2002).

Local experience indicates weight gain can also vary widely by genetics. To provide indicative material, we have averaged sales sheet weights from the two outstanding fullblood sales of recent years:  Westholme Wagyu, 2005; and Wattletop (with Trent Bridge), 2007.   Westholme figures are for 2 year old bulls; Wattletop provides data for yearlings.

These weights are indicative of the individual herds, not necessarily typical Australian Wagyu weights for age. 

Information used with permission from the largest Australian breeder and feeder of Wagyu,  Australian Agricultural Company (AACo), enables a broader snapshot of typical Wagyu weights for age in Australia. This data is current induction specification material for fullblood Wagyu feeders to AACo feedlots.

AACo Fullblood Intake Age/Weight Range 

Age: 9-13 months
Weight: 240 – 350 kg

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Scrotal Measurement

A key performance prediction measurement specified in authoritative Western bull buying advisories is scrotal circumference.. Although yearling scrotal measurements vary widely by breed, generally acceptable measurements for commencement of joining are 30-32cm at 12-14 months for mainstream British and European breeds.

Black Wagyu bulls generally are early to puberty, highly libidinous and very fertile, but scrotal sizes are less than for mainstream breeds. Again, objective data for the Australian Wagyu herd is not available, so material is drawn from Westholme and Wattletop sales catalogues.

A scientific evaluation of American Wagyu sires for scrotal circumference by age and body weight recommended a breed specific minimum of 26cm for 12-14 month old Wagyu bulls.  (See Sosa, Singer & Reeves: 2002).

Japanese Wagyu breeders take a different view to factors considered important in the West.  In joining yearling Black Wagyu bulls in Japan, Mr Shogo Takeda advises that scrotal size is considered unimportant unless the testes are ‘unusually small’.   Joining is commenced  at 15 months of age.
Note that scrotal data on our sale bulls is collected by a Registered Cattle Veterinarian as part of the Bull Examination Certificate provided for each bull.  This is usually completed well in advance of sale notices, so actual scrotal circumference will be larger as this period is one of rapid scrotal growth.

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Frame Score

Frame score is measured for each bull during the veterinary examination.   This measurement of stature is usually consistent through the life of the bull and enables selection for matching dam frame scores and predicting progeny frame size – vital to success in long feed programs.  For further information on frame score application see Frame Scoring of Beef Cattle – NSW DPI.

Serving Capability & Capacity

Given a few days practice, young bulls either alone or in peer groups will successfully mate even substantially larger cows.  Young bulls should not be mixed in joining groups with mature bulls, due to significant injury and disease risk in addition to indifferent outcomes where genetic gain is targeted.

Given correct group selection, normal calving percentages should be achieved and calf size will be related to the heritable genetic trait characteristics of the bulls (most likely determinable from 16/16 analysis), not from bulls’ actual size at mating.   Calving difficulties are uncommon with Wagyu sires even over small fullblood Wagyu females.

Expert advisories on the work capacity of young bulls vary around the world.  NSW DPI suggests a workload of 25-30 females to start.  Other advisories such as Management of Yearling Bulls from the Virginia (Tech) State Extension, USA suggest a more conservative approach, limiting cows to the equivalent month age of the bull (18 months = 18 cows).  Each farm is likely to have unique characteristics that will influence a final decision.

Joining should be limited to two cycles or about 60 days.

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Management

Successful management of yearling bulls in joining programs requires careful attention to nutrition and parasite programs, both of which impact young bulls much more than older animals.  Bulls should not be overfat at joining (Target body score 2.5- 3.5, NSW DPI) and can be expected to loose substantial weight over the joining period.  Both pre and post joining nutrition and care are important in protecting the investment in the young bull.

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Sources & Useful Links

Yearling bulls - tapping their immense potential | NSW Department of Primary Industries
Using Yearling Bulls In A Breeding Program – Meat & Wool NZ
The Decision To Use Yearling Beef Bulls – Oklahoma State University, USA
Management of Yearling Bulls – Virginia Tech/Virginia State University, USA
Choosing and Managing Young Bulls, EC 1035 – Oregon State University, USA

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