NOTES: First offering in the USA! For a solid investment in a future herd with well-balanced traits, and linkage to the Australian Wagyu Association progeny testing program, you can’t ignore Queensland Wagyu Fuji R1. If ever there was a potential marbling bull that also brought the best of female lines together, this is the bull. Fuji R1 is sired by Sumo L153, an elite son of Sumo Michifuku F154, that beyond his very impressive sire stack, also features a double dose of the super star producing Shimane matriarch Hikohime 3/2 out of the Hikokura line originating from Ezokintou. Itoshigefuji TF148 sired R1’s dam out of the prolific, and highly desirable, Kanadagene daughter, Benlee Aizakura X158. Benlee Aizakura features in the bloodline of several prominent modern bulls, including Mayura L10. It is no accident. Benlee Aizakura combines the Suzutani and Aizakura maternal lines. The Suzutani line needs no introduction with sons like Shigeshigetani, Sanjirou and Kanadagene. The Aizakura line traces back to Aino 6 that produced the great Fujiyoshi-line maternal bull, Itohana 2. The Australian estimated breeding values project that high and fine marbling should be expected in Fuji R1’s progeny. These important carcass traits are supported with sires such as Michifuku, Kanadagene and Itoshigenami that are well known for their superior marble score, marble fineness, eye muscle area and carcass quality, in the bloodline. Carcase weight and maternal characteristics are expected to be supported by the contributions of Terutani 40/1, as evidenced in the Australian national wagyu herd. From experience, genomic EBVs appears to suggest that DNA from Tajima lines exert more marbling influence over Shimane lines, without diminishing the growth and milk traits of the latter, so that progeny ultimately ends up balanced with both good marbling and a reasonable carcass weight. QLDFR0001 Q WAGYU FUJI (ET) is participating in the Australian Wagyu Association Progeny Test Program (AWA-PTP). The expectation is that this program will augment the highly successful Wagyu BREEDPLAN genetic analysis through progeny evaluation from the maximum number of emerging industry sires for high-value traits. Comprehensive progeny test data on approximately 250 emerging Wagyu bulls will be collected in various participating herds to analyse traits such as fertility and maternal performance in heifers, in addition to steer progeny for feed efficiency, carcase, and eating quality. The program will create high-accuracy EBVs for project sires and cows and benefit all members through genetic linkage and genomic analysis. For example, the EBV accuracy of a bull that has undergone progeny testing can improve from 50% accuracy to 90% accuracy resulting in improved breeding decisions and rate of genetic improvement in the Wagyu breed across all herds. By utilising Queensland Wagyu’s Fuji R1 in your herd, your herd will reap the benefits from the data collected in the progeny testing program.