![]() “He had more to do in a day than you can imagine, he was just completely absorbed in the breeding of these animals that produce our meat and our fibre.” “He had some exciting things he was developing there to assist breeders with the final touches in breeding their rams and ewes,” Mrs Watts. She said Dr Watts was writing scientific papers with colleagues including veterinary colleague Peter Howeĭr Watts also believed that the breeding of SRS sheep could still be further refined, and was refining laboratory methods for greater accuracy. “When you are very ill yourself you can feel this more strongly.” “He could see that their lives could be made a little better, so that was a great interest of his. “He just stood his ground and of course that is what my children and I are very proud of.” Dr Watts continued to work through his illnessĭr Watts was known his promotion of the ethical treatment of animals and sustainable farming practices, and Mrs Watts said he was driven by his deeply felt compassion for animals, particularly sheep, his own dogs, but also for the alpaca and Angora goats he worked with. “He wasn’t a politician and he was quite uncompromising, but that’s because as a scientist he felt he couldn’t dilute it he saw what he saw as a scientist,” she said. “He didn’t try to moderate or dilute his message to make it more acceptable, it didn’t occur to him to do that. ![]() “It was always going to be the case that Jim was never going to get recognised until he passed away and unfortunately he has passed away far too young.”Īlthough Dr Watts’ work polarised Merino breeders adhering to traditional breeding and selection techniques, Mrs Watts said he never set out to be divisive. Mr Favaloro said many Merino stud breeders still sought SRS genetics, while not always following SRS concepts “all the way through” or recognising their contribution in their flocks. “We are trying to base it around the final Sheep CRC conference in Dubbo in March.” “We are going to be holding an SRS stud breeders’ meeting and I’m also trying to include the alpaca and the Angora breeders. Mr Favaloro said he was optimistic that the SRS studs would continue Jim Watts’ work in promoting non-mulesing and free-growing wool. “All stud breeders love their sheep and the last thing they want is to have them struck with flies,” he said. “They are cleaning their sheep up and slowly getting rid of the wrinkles – that has to be attributed to Jim. They produce about 12,000 rams annually, but he said the influence of Dr Watts’ work was showing up in most Merino stud flocks across Australia. Mr Favaloro said there were about 30 SRS Merino studs in all Australian states. Mrs Watts said it was her and her husband’s wish that his work would not die. These methods have been recognised for producing sheep that did not need mulesing or tail docking, while increasing lamb production, survival and natural resistance to flystrike.ĭr Watts with his wife Sally founded The SRS Company Pty Ltd and then SRS Genetics, which has serviced Merino, alpaca and Angora stud breeders worldwide. His methods have been adopted by alpaca, Angora and Merino breeders worldwide. His Dr Watts’ early research work led to him developing the ‘soft rolling skin’ or SRS method of breeding sheep by visual and objective selection to optimise fleece quality and quantity. After graduating in veterinary science in 1972, he worked for CSIRO on the follicle and fibre characteristics associated with the resistance of sheep to fleece-rot and flystrike. ![]() In 2014, Dr Watts was made a Member of the General Division of the Order of Australia for his significant service to primary industry, particularly wool production.Īs a research veterinarian, he specialised in skin and fleece biology of Merino sheep, Angora goats and alpacas. Click here to see the family’s Facebook eulogy and comments.ĭr Watts’ wife Sally, confirmed that her husband nominated a few lieutenants to continue his work and one of these, New South Wales sheep classer Paul Favaloro, said a meeting is being planned in Dubbo in March to discuss this. Condolence comments have come in worldwide, including from Australia, South Africa and South America. However, the ever-committed veterinary scientist has ensured a few faithful lieutenants will continue his work and some of these have planned a meeting in Dubbo in March to discuss this.Ī Watts’ family vale post on the SRS Facebook on February 6 up to yesterday had reached nearly 8857 people with 3275 engagements. MERINO sheep, Angora goat and alpaca breeders around the world have expressed their condolences on the passing of revolutionary Merino breeding and wool scientist Dr Jim Watts.ĭr Watts, 69, died after a long illness, at Bowral’s Southern Highlands Private Hospital on Monday January 28, leaving his wife Sally and children James, Alex, and Amy. The extended family is having lunch together in Bowral this coming Sunday to remember him.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |