Wagyu Cattle Registry Incentive for New Members

The Wagyu Cattle Registry offers new members who join the opportunity to register or transfer any animal regardless of age for the special price of $15 per animal during the first year of membership. Registering and Identifying your animals is an investment that can increase value by knowing and documenting their ancestry.

Rules and Regulation for Registrations

The Wagyu Cattle Registry (WCR) has established a herdbook to register Wagyu and to maintain these records for future generations. All Wagyu from approved Wagyu Associations and Registries, Wagyu that DNA test to be Wagyu will be accepted for registry. Wagyu are those animals considered to be of Japanese origin or a combination thereof. Which in Japan are called Japanese Black, Japanese Brown, and Mishima. There are also in Japan the Japanese Shorthorn and the Japanese polled but we know of no importations of those breeds at this time and the Japanese government has made Wagyu a national treasure and no live animal or genetics may be exported.

The Wagyu Cattle Registry will recognize Wagyu from the following approved registries and open to other countries who establish Wagyu registries as Wagyu becomes more prolific.

American Wagyu Association
Wagyu Breeders Association (US)
American Akushi Association
Australian Wagyu Association
Asociación Wagyu de España
Wagyu Society of South Africa
Associacao Brasileira de Criadores de Wagyu
Wagyu Verband Deutschland
Wagyu Breeders Association Ltd. (UK)

Standards for Registration - Wagyu Percentage

Fullblood registration is available to all animals meeting the following requirements:

Fullblood is any animal with not less than 100% Wagyu blood.
Fullblood registration is available to all Wagyu which are offspring of both a sire and dam registered as Fullblood in the Wagyu Cattle Registry herdbook and meet all other requirements for registry.
Fullblood registration is available to all imported and domestic Wagyu which are recorded as Fullblood in the herdbook of the Association in the country of origin. This rule also applies to an Embryo Transplant or Artificial Insemination Wagyu, if both parents (sire and dam) are recorded as Fullblood in the herdbook of the Associations in the countries of origin.

Purebred registration is available to all animals meeting the following requirements:

Fullbloods (100%) can only be the result of two Fullblood parents, Purebred will never be Fullbloods.
Sire's and Dam's Wagyu percentage added together and divided by 2 equals the calves breed percentage.
Bulls are considered purebred when they are 93.75% (15/16) up to 99.99% Wagyu and Females are considered purebred at 87.5% (7/8th) up to 99.99% Wagyu and will be registered in the Purebred Registry.
Breed % percentage is calculated on the average of the parents rounded to the nearest 100^th of a percent except Purebred Wagyu that are 99.95% or more may not be rounded up to 100%.

Percentage Registration is available to all animals meeting the following requirements:

Bulls with less that 93.75% (15/16) and more that 46.875% (1/2 or 15/16) Wagyu blood are considered Percentage Wagyu. Females with less than 87.5% (7/8) and more that 46.875% (7.5/16) Wagyu blood will be considered as a Percentage Wagyu.
Breed % percentage is calculated on the average of the parents rounded to the nearest 100^th of a percent.
Wagyu that are 46.875% (1/2 or 15/16) Wagyu blood or more meet USDA guidelines as qualifying as Wagyu Beef. (For example, a 93.75% (15/16) Purebred Wagyu bull on a 100% Angus cow will result in a calf that is 46.875% and qualifies as Wagyu Beef)

Influenced Registration is available to all animals meeting the following requirements:

Animals with less than 46.875% (1/2 of 15/16) Wagyu blood but more than 2%
Breed % percentage is calculated on the average of the parents rounded to the nearest 100^th of a percent.

The following rules will apply to all Wagyu animals:

No Purebred Wagyu will be upgraded to Fullblood.
No rule shall be established for a color standard in any Wagyu. Members are encouraged to develop Wagyu in colors of various blondes (platinum, strawberry, ash, dark blondes etc.) white, red and black. Let the members be creative and whatever the market decides let that be a deciding factor. Colors will be noted in the description of the animal.
No rule shall be established excluding a color pattern or white markings on any Wagyu. Members are encouraged to develop Wagyu in patterns they enjoy. Tiger stripped patterns as in Brahman, lineback patterns as in Pinzgauers and Gloucesters, blue and red roan patterns as in Shorthorns or belted patterns as in Galloways or Dutch Belted. If a line of Wagyu develops with these patterns, WCR will help give delineation for them as a special group, as Mishima would be highlighted as a special group of Wagyu.
No rule shall be established to exclude horned, dehorned, polled or scurred Wagyu. Fullblood Wagyu are horned and some prefer to dehorn them, which others consider cruel. What is cruel is a horned cow goring those not horned. So WCR will always register animals horned or dehorned. Polled and scurred Wagyu are becoming more popular among the Purebred and Percentage Wagyu where the dominant polled Celtic gene has been passed on from the Angus breed. Members may want to develop polledness in their cattle as dehorning is work or a cost at the vet.

Registration Certificates

Percentage of breed bloodlines will be recorded and listed on the registry certificate. Any breed percentage two or less will be dropped and added to the predominant breed. Letter abbreviations for breeds will be determined, in part, by accepted industry standards.

Animals in the Wagyu Cattle Registry will be eligible for all programs of the Registry. To be eligible for these programs futurities and shows, animals must be registered in the Wagyu Cattle Registry.

Application for registration must be made on the form provided by the Registry, photocopy of approved breed certificate, or other form that may be approved and/or accepted.

The application for registry shall state the bloodlines of the ancestors of the animal. If either the sire or dam of any animal is registered in the Wagyu Cattle Registry, this name and registry number must be used. If either the sire or dam is registered in another breed association, that name and registry number must be used. If either the sire or dam is unregistered, an identification number and or name must be given on the application. This identification must not be duplicated on any other animal in the herd. This animal will then be given an identifier number in the Wagyu Cattle Registry and must be used when registering other resulting offspring. If no identification number is known or given the sire and/or dam will be listed on the certificate of registry as "unknown".

All cattle shall be named and may not consist of more than 30 spaces, including suffixes. Names shall not duplicate names of animals previously registered. The following suffixes are required:

ET - designates Embryo Transfer
TW - designated twin
TR - designated triplet
CL - designates clone
MS – designates Mishima
DL- designates dilution gene

A female born twin to male cannot be registered until she is proven to be a breeder by blood test, veterinarian examination, or is pregnancy checked by a veterinarian. Veterinarian's statement must accompany application for registry.

Breeder's prefix (herd name) must be kept as the first part of the animal's name.

The breeder of an animal shall be listed as the recorded owner or lessee of the dam at time of breeding.

For offspring of leased females a completed and signed WCR Lease Agreement by the lessor and lessee must be submitted and on file with the WCR (Wagyu Cattle Registry). The lessee shall be considered the breeder of any offspring conceived during the time period of the lease agreement.

Offspring of a dam registered in the Wagyu Cattle Registry may be registered to the owner or lessee of dam at time of calving unless extenuating circumstances prevent registration at the time. WCR will evaluate circumstances.

Required identification shall be in the form of an ear tattoo, official RFID / EID tag, pictures or hand drawn sketches on registration application. The tattoo can be located in one or both ears of the animal and must contain standard Arabic numbers and English Letters. No two animals of the same sex registered by the same breeder shall be given identical tattoos EXCEPT a breeder may use the same mark and location on the same sex animal after ten years. The required tattoo and its location shall be stated on application for registration. In the case of animals that are solid colored a tattoo or RFID / EID tag will be required.

Applications may be rejected where, due to birthdates or other irregularities, they are deemed to be unreliable. It is provided, however, that a request for review may be made and an offer to the person submitting the application to make corrections. Applications shall include the following statement: "As recorded owner or authorized agent of the Dam of this animal at time of birth, (I / we) hereby certify that all information on this registration application is true and correct to the best of my knowledge, and that the Wagyu Cattle Registry shall have the privilege to correct and/or cancel this application under the Rules and Regulations of the Registry. By submitting this document, (I / we) hereby agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Wagyu Cattle Registry."

Genetic Defects, Conditions and Abnormalities

It is known that all species including all breeds of cattle have genetic defects, conditions and abnormalities present in their DNA affecting the physical traits of cattle. Not all of these physical traits are bad but actually beneficial. Many physical traits can be linked directly to a specific genetic variant (mutation) in the DNA, and these variants can be passed from parent to offspring. Because an animal inherits a copy of DNA from each parent, a mutation can be transmitted from either the sire or the dam. A “dominant” trait is one that is physically observable in an animal when it inherits only one copy from either its sire or dam. It only takes one copy of the mutation to change the physical appearance of that animal. An example of this is black hair color or the polled gene causing a lack of horns. A “recessive” trait is one that is only physically observable when a calf inherits a mutated copy of the DNA from both parents. An example of a recessive trait is red coat color. Note that not all recessive traits are bad or of an economical problem for the animal and some may in fact have a selective advantage. Two copies of the mutation are necessary to change the physical appearance of that animal. For this reason, an animal with only one copy of the recessive gene will typically not show any sign of the trait. An animal with two copies of the recessive mutation will show the trait.

In the case of the dilution gene one copy can be in an animal and not be displayed as in the case of the red sire of the white bull, CLV Shiroi Tamamaru WCR#260000001 or it can be displayed as in the case of his dam who was blonde due to having 1 copy of the dilution gene. Tam (CLV Shiroi Tamamaru) got 2 copies of the dilution gene and Davis Labs of the University of California says this always produces a white animal. This is a great example of a beneficial mutant and the development of light colored Wagyu that will enhance the natural heat resistance of Wagyu.

Before we get into what are considered bad genetic recessive disorders a little perspective needs to be made. First and foremost is that this is a Registry dedicated to the promotion of the best beef breed in the world. In Japan for centuries Japanese did not eat beef nor was the lower class permitted horses. So native Wagyu cattle were used for draught and not for food. The late Eldon Clawson pointed out the strength of Wagyu in the hump one sees in the middle of the back where tendons attach and says it is part of the strength of Wagyu where modern beef breeds bred for eating have had that bred out of them. As a draught animal, David Blackmore a top Australian breeder, states that possibly the excess marbling (Inter Muscular Fat) was needed right next to muscles that were working hard in order to convert to energy quickly. The result is an animal with twice the marbling of Angus or Hereford. Plus the fat is high in omega 3 and since it has the same Omega 3's as salmon, but there is more fat in Wagyu, therefore Wagyu is better for you than salmon. But the best indicator that you have part of the Japanese treasure is going to a restaurant and having to spend high dollars for Wagyu.

Okay, now that you know you have treasure in your pasture let's take a look at the genetics industry. Geneticists come up with all sorts of tests that they peddle to some associations and they peddle it to the producers as vital for the health of their herds. The geneticists create work to keep their rice bowl full, so they must keep finding new tests to improve the breeds. Now it's possible that in some breeds genetic recessives are a real problem but in Wagyu they seem to be more scare with nothing there. So the producer is getting bled by a thousand cuts some big some small. For a sense of what producers think Facebook's Wagyu Breeders Group member Chris Brant had a posting on April 12^th, 2017 that was directed at testing. A comment by a member with about 25 years in Wagyu production stated this:

“Yes the ghost...Band 3 is supposedly the worst ,deadly recessive gene..a few years back Belcampo had a herd liquidation sale..selling all their Wagyu FB cattle and going to F1 production. I was with the manager looking at their cattle. I saw this beautiful bull that wasn't in the sale. He was not for sale ..because he was their best carcass bull..besides they said he was affected Band 3, not a carrier, but affected, so no one would buy him anyway. I asked his age, 7yrs old....well we know that's a lie, our so called experts said no affected animal would live over a year...so I got to see my first Wagyu ghost.....lol....I have yet to see anyone have any issues with recessive genes...I have seen folks with bad management techniques..blame it on recessive genes....my opinion”.

And a member's comment tells of a visitor from the Japanese Association:

“Dr. Kunieda came to the meeting in Coeur d'Alene when we had our talk about the recessives. He said the Japanese Assoc. will not register animals that are carriers of 2 of the disorders, will register and monitor animals that carry the other 2 disorders and don't worry about F11 at all. I wish I could remember which disorders went where.”

So maybe some serious ones but not all.

Third thing I would like to bring up is market. Customers are always right and they may want to buy a recessive free animal and if you are selling seed stock and not meat you may want to do all the tests. A few years back producers who had Wagyu with recessive disorders entered them into the Texas Wagyu Sale and took a big hit in prices. Since then many are aware and have been breeding for recessive free. So market will determine and eventually lead to recessive free cattle. Though genomic companies will be hard at work trying to find another recessive mutant disorder to avoid.

So realize you have treasure in Wagyu cattle but you may want to do the tests to polish it or not. Here are the five genetic recessive tests said to be found in Wagyu cattle:

• Erythrocyte Membrane Protein Band III Deficiency (Spherocytosis) (Band 3)

Affected cattle (cattle with two copies of the causative mutation) are morbidly anemic. The mutations affect a protein necessary for proper shape and function of red blood cells. Calves are typically born weak and small (40-55 lbs birth weight) with severe anemia, labored breathing, palpitations, and not able to stand or suckle at birth. This disorder is often lethal, but some affected cattle survive to adulthood, although with severely retarded growth. (This was the affected example of the 7yr old “Ghost” bull given above)

• Claudin 16 Deficiency (CL16)

This mutation causes a buildup of fibrous tissue in the kidneys as well as other tissues. Affected cattle suffer from a severe risk of kidney failure throughout their lives. Other symptoms include growth retardation, increased blood urea nitrogen and creatinine values, diarrhea and overgrowth of hooves. It may or may not be lethal, but affected cattle tend to have atypically short lives.

• Chediak-Higashi Syndrome (CHS)

Affected cattle have a deficiency in cells that make up a functional immune system. As a result, these calves are often more susceptible to disease and infection. These cattle may also have a light coat color, and slight coagulation problems (hemorrhaging). This disorder is usually not lethal.

• Bovine Blood Coagulation Factor XIII Deficiency (F13)

This disorder is where one of the proteins needed to form blood clots is missing or reduced. Symptoms include severely prolonged bleeding time, bruising from castration/branding, and severe anemia. Death occurs in most cases.

• Factor XI Deficiency (F11)

This mutation affects the efficiency of the clotting factor F11. Affected cattle suffer from mild hemophilia-like bleeding tendencies, either spontaneously or following trauma and surgical procedures. It is also possible that Carrier x Carrier mating have increased difficulty producing viable fertilized embryos and full-term pregnancies and are often Repeat Breeders1 . Normal repeat breeding may be considered 40% with 60% conception being an industry average. It has been reported that factor 11 increased rebreeding by 50% in the Canadian Holstein breed, so now instead of 60% conception we will get 40% conception with 60% of the animals open to be rebred. 1 Repeat Breeders are Cows that are cycling normally, with no clinical abnormalities, which have failed to conceive after at least two successive inseminations or embryo transfers. From a clinical perspective, there are two types of repeat breeders: 1. Early repeats - Cows that come into heat within 17-24 days after insemination or embryo transfer. In these animals the luteal function has been shorter than normal or typical for the physiological estrus cycle in non-bred cows. In these cows the most probable event is either failure of fertilization (delayed ovulation, poor semen quality etc.) or early embryonic death (delayed ovulation, poor embryo quality, unfavorable uterine environment, precocious luteolysis). 2. Late repeats - Cows that come into heat later than 25 days after insemination or embryo transfer. In these animals the luteal function was maintained for longer than the physiological luteal phase in non-bred cows. Fertilization and initial recognition of pregnancy probably took place but for some reason (inadequate luteal function, inadequate embryo signaling, infectious diseases, induced luteolysis) luteolysis was induced and pregnancy lost.

(F-11 is usually not tested for in other nations unless selling cattle/genetics to the U.S)

Summary

Wagyu Cattle Registry takes no stand for or against testing for genetic recessive disorders. However, it has been noted that an animal that tests as a carrier “C” (one copy of a mutated gene) usually does not get top dollar at sales. Now for anyone wanting the best beef there is then this is an economical way to achieve it, but for one wanting breed stock then you may want to shy away. For even if the tests may be merely money makers for genomic companies and organizations that take a cut, still the market will determine a lower value for these animals. WCU reminds members that buyer beware of those not posting results in sales of carrier animals and those that post the results you may have to look for them. For example it may be posted as CHS:C and you could easily miss this as a carrier animal of Chediak-Higashi Syndrome.

Wagyu Cattle Registry notes that some members may not test their cattle due to the high costs per animal that can run into serious money. In the cases where this is due to having tested animals in their pedigree so that the progeny are now Free of Recessive disorders due to parentage is fine. However, if there are carriers or affected animals without subsequent testing of the progeny a disclosure will be made on the registration and the herdbook in a recessive disorder chart as follows:

Genetic Recessive Disorder Results Chart

DISORDER

RESULTS

RECOMMENDATIONS

Band 3	FREE	Good animal do as you will
CL16	FREE by parentage	Good animal do as you will
CHS	AFFECTED	Slaughter for that wonderful Wagyu beef
F13	CARRIER	Breed to Free of F13 animal or slaughter
F11	Untested potential CARRIER	Get tested or breed to free of F11 animal

ETHICS: The Wagyu Cattle Registry considers it unethical to offer animals, semen or embryos from animals to be known or potential carriers of genetic defects for sale and not inform a buyer or potential buyer of the presence or potential presence of genetic defects.

ADVERTISING: The Wagyu Cattle Registry requires that any advertisement of animals contain information that the animal is either carriers or potential carriers of a genetic defect.

Resolving Errors in Registry

The following policy with regard to resolving registry errors has been adopted.

A letter is to be sent to the owner requesting that the discrepancy be checked and verification of the correct information be sent to the Wagyu Cattle Registry.

If no response is received to the first letter, a second letter shall be sent stating that the situation must be rectified or, all animals in question will be expunged from the records of the Wagyu Cattle Registry.

Transfer of Ownership

Sale of all animals registered in the Wagyu Cattle Registry should be reported to the Wagyu Cattle Registry within 30 days of sale. The fee for transfer of ownership reported within 30 days of sale shall be less than the fee for sales reported after 60 days.

Transfer of ownership shall be made on forms supplied by the Registry and the seller is expected to furnish the buyer promptly with a transferred certificate giving the correct date of sale and paying the fee unless stipulated when the animal is sold that the buyer is responsible for transfer fee. Any transfer may be cancelled by the Registry upon application by both parties or upon application of one party and due notice given to the other party. Transfers will be cancelled only for error or where delivery of the animal was not consummated.

Registry of Herd Name / Prefix

The Wagyu Cattle Registry shall maintain a list of reserved herd names (prefix) which may not be infringed upon. Breeders may register their herd name (prefix) at no charge. Members of an immediate family may, by written consent of the prefix holder, use the same herd prefix. Principle owner of farm must be given if the animals are registered in the farm name.

Fraud or Deception

The provisions of the rules with respect to fraud and deception shall be applicable.

Fees

The Wagyu Cattle Registry has the power to establish fees for registration, transfers, and other registry work. All fees must accompany the work to be completed by the Registry unless accounts have been previously opened, checks made payable and sent to the Registrar: the International Cattle Beef Registry.

DNA Typing and Verification of Records.

The Wagyu Cattle Registry is committed to the accuracy and integrity of animals that are registered and accepted into the herdbook.

The Wagyu Cattle Registry has chosen to utilize the service of Neogen and Univ. of California at Davis as the primary providers for DNA testing. The Wagyu Cattle Registry will also accept test results that have been conducted at other laboratories that have been approved and results accepted by other Registries, Associations and Organizations involved in the Beef Industry.

Contact the Wagyu Cattle Registry for proper forms and instructions for DNA testing.

All animals to be registered with the Wagyu Cattle Registry will need a DNA profile that must be obtained by members or non members. WCR is not paying for it and so does not own the DNA on your cattle – YOU DO! That way you control your own cattle not any organization or registry. For testing with Neogen, the test will go thru the WCR, but on submission for testing a statement will be sent to Neogen that you as the owner of the animal have the rights to your information. The WCR will be allowed to retain the rights to use this data as needed. This is especially true where parentage verification is needed. If an owner does not own the sire or dam, then written permission from each owner will need to be obtained in order to complete a parentage verification test. This will result in delays in being able to complete the registration process on animals. With the WCR having the use of that information, this negates the need for you as a breeder or owner from obtaining multiple written permission letters.

Please refer to the Genomic testing page for the latest information.

Any requests to register Wagyu in the WCR that are registered in other accepted Wagyu organizations will need a DNA profile done through Neogen or UC Davis. You will get the DNA and we ask for a copy.

The Wagyu Cattle Registry requires DNA profiles and/or parent verification for the following situations:

BULLS – Collection for AI and ET insemination

It is encouraged to use WCR registered bulls whose semen has been or will be collected for use in Artificial Insemination and Embryo In Vivo and In Vitro insemination in order to promote the use of members animals. Members bulls will already have a DNA profile and WCR highly encourages that the bull be tested for genetic recessive disorders that WCR will keep on file for the member.

Bulls that are registered with other Registries and Associations have quality animals. If these bulls have not been tested for the 5 genetic recessive disorders you may want to avoid them as once you have gone through the expenses of 9 months only to find you have calves with recessives that have low value. Of course, Wagyu Cattle Registry will accept registrations of calves from bulls of those registries that have been used for AI and ET insemination, but it seems prudent to use bulls that have been tested. WCR will need a copy of DNA profiles on these bulls.

Members who do the AI and AI of donors for Embryo transplant or IVF, should save a drop of semen on a blood card to send in after insemination to obtain a DNA profile on the bull used so that Wagyu Cattle Registry can place the bull on the WCR Sire List. Members will initially pay for the testing (WCR recommends the Igenity Beef Profile) and the member will receive a credit on their account for the cost of the testing. Once the DNA testing is completed and we have the results, the member will receive a Credit Memo for the cost of the test which can be applied to future registrations. Please contact the WCR office for blood cards.

Semen Identification of Bulls -info for bull collection facilities

Bulls being used for breeding by artificial insemination must have proper identification of the semen for the accuracy of information and cross-referencing to insure that offspring resulting from artificial insemination can be properly identified.

The accepted requirements for identifying each unit (straw, ampule, etc.) of semen are as follows:

The name and registration number of the bull.
NAAB (National Association of Animal Breeders) stud code of the organization freezing semen.
Breed Code (This is the 2 letter code for the breed)
Bull Code Number (the number assigned by the collecting stud)
In the case of semen that has been imported from other countries, many do not follow these same rules and requirements regarding the identification used on the units of semen. Many of them identify bulls by a herdbook number. When these situations arise and to make cross-referencing with the NAAB and others in the use of the semen and properly coding and identifying the bulls, bulls must be listed and registered with the Wagyu Cattle Registry and the herdbook number must become part of the name. The fee for registering and listing foreign bulls regardless of age with the Wagyu Cattle Registry shall be at the lowest current rate for registering animals. The entity that has processed the semen must have a stud code number that has been assigned to them by the NAAB and then assign NAAB coding as outlined in (b,c,d) as listed above, that can be used for the purpose of cross-referencing.

NAAB Cross-Referencing Program

The NAAB Cross-Reference Program maintains identification information on beef bulls which have been assigned NAAB codes. Use of NAAB codes by beef producers for sire identification purposes continues to be popular. NAAB has a database which cross-references NAAB codes to official identification numbers as a service to bull owners. Participation in this service is open to any qualified owner or lessor of bulls which have had semen collected.

The NAAB cross-reference database also maintains information on bulls which make genetic evaluations more useful. Many cows have their sires identified by the NAAB code. Many service sires are identified by their NAAB code when breeding data is recorded for farm management purposes. By participating in the NAAB Cross Reference Program allows for these numbers to be converted to official identification numbers.

Enrolling a bull in the NAAB Cross-Reference Program automatically gets him listed in Beef Bulls in A.I. With a bull enrolled in the NAAB Cross-Reference Program it allows for improved identification of their offspring and greatly enhance the bull having a most complete genetic evaluation.

Please contact the Wagyu Beef Cattle Registry for forms and more information concerning enrolling bulls in the NAAB Cross-Reference Program.

COWS – Embryo Transfers

It is encouraged for all females used as donor dams in an embryo transfer program to be registered with the WCR so we have a DNA profile on hand in order to DNA parentage the resulting calves. . Additionally any female used as a donor is encouraged to be tested for the 5 genetic recessive disorders just to save members from low valued calves and if both sire and dam are tested and Free then no testing needs be done on the calves that would be free by parentage.

Donor females that are not registered with the Wagyu Cattle Registry need a DNA profile on file with the breed association that the donor is registered in and a copy provided to the WCR. If the association or registry will not provide a copy, as in the case of the AWA,, Neogenor UC Davis will do it for a small fee.

CALVES: All offspring to be registered require a DNA parentage profile from Neogen or UC Davis one for your records and a copy to WCR. Unless parent DNA is unavailable and then a review will be done on a case by case basis.

.OTHER: Samples from animals that are submitted for DNA profile may be parent verified if the DNA typing records are on file for the sire and/or dam.

After an animal has been registered with the Wagyu Cattle Registry, and should such registration come into question for its validity, the Registry shall have the power to suspend the registration and investigate the matter. If it is found that the animal has been registered improperly, then the animal and any offspring of said animal will be corrected or removed from the Registry.

If an animal has been accepted for registration using current method of parent verification at the time of registration, the parentage of the animal shall not be questioned in the future even though a newer method of parent verification becomes available which is more accurate.

Cell-cloned transplants

The following requirements shall apply to the registration of calves resulting from cell-cloned transplants.

Only replication cell-cloned animals shall be eligible for registration. Genetically modified animals shall not be eligible for registration.

The cell-donor animal must be DNA-marker-typed.

The breeder of the cell-donor animal must be identified as the breeder of the cell-cloned offspring.

The owner of record of the cell-donor, on the date of biopsy removal, will be identified as the first owner, unless the calf is a result of a pregnant recipient, purchased embryo, fresh or frozen, in which case the purchaser may be identified as the first owner.

DNA-marker-typing of the cell-cloned animal, or recipient dams, may be required by the Registry.

Calves conceived after death of cell-donor animals, shall be eligible for registration under the same conditions and provisions governing the eligibility of calves prior to the death of said animal.

Registration of cell-cloned transplants shall be made on a special form, provided by the Composite Beef Cattle Registry, at the regular fee, plus an additional fee as determined by the Registry.

Registration certificates issued for cell-cloned transplants shall be so designated. The registration number of the animal, which is being cell cloned, shall also be stated on the certificate of registration.

The Wagyu Cattle Registry shall develop forms necessary to identify the source of the nuclear DNA.

The Wagyu Cattle Registry shall not take any position as to the ownership rights, if any, of retained cell material. That is a separate matter to be determined by the original written agreement or reserved for discussion or negotiation between the buyer and seller.

It is to be understood that even though clones share the same genetic information, only those production and performance records of offspring that pertain to the cloned animal will be used in its own genetic evaluations.

Herd Assessment is not compulsory but optional for those seeking data recording.

The Wagyu Cattle Registry does not require breeders/owners to pay a Herd Assessment. Herd Assessment is for breeders/owners who wish to have EPD's. Contact the office for more details regarding the Herd Assessment and EPD's.