Beyond the Bale - Issue 25 - Nuffield winners aim for wool industry improvement
From dual-purpose sheep genetics to wool's global market, this year's AWI-sponsored Nuffield scholars aim to better understand and improve Australia's changing wool industry.
Andrew Bouffler, from Lockhart, NSW, and James Walker, from Carrick, Tasmania, were awarded Nuffield scholarships in October. Each will take part in Nuffield's global focus tours next year and complete individual study tours.
Mr Bouffler works with his brother Philip on the 3000-hectare family enterprise ‘Trigger Vale', regarded as one of the most progressive studs in Australia. He plans to study dual-purpose sheep genetics, performance-testing techniques and associated analysis tools.
"My fundamental concern is that the sheep flock in Australia is at very low historical levels," he says.
"Estimates for the 2006 national joining suggest that not enough Merino ewes will be mated to maternal sires to even sustain these current low numbers. A greater focus on dual-purpose genetics could help ensure that Australia can supply enough product into both our valuable wool and meat industries."
He plans to travel to South Africa, Argentina, New Zealand and the Falkland Islands to identify potential new genetic sources and objective performance-testing techniques to enhance productivity gains for Australia's wool industry.
James Walker hopes to gain an insight into global production systems and how different countries compete with similar products on his Nuffield tour. "Sometimes a completely different industry can give insight into how to improve methods in our own industry," he says.
Breeding, production, harvesting and quality assurance procedures and processes will also be investigated by visiting Europe, Russia, the US, Canada and China.
Mr Walker, who operates a sheep and beef stud as well as fine wool, commercial cattle, agroforestry, prime lamb, horticultural and seed production enterprises on a 2500ha property, plans a long future in wool production. "I have confidence in the industry. However, many of my colleagues are not seeing the same bright future and I would like to be able to encourage them through what I learn."
Return to Beyond the Bale issue 25 index page.