About SRS®

Our People

Dr Jim Watts, Chief Scientist and Breeding Consultant.

Jim is a veterinarian (B.V.Sc., 1972, M.V.Sc., 1978, Ph.D., 1982, University of Sydney) who has developed a new way of breeding Merino sheep.

The breeding system, called the SRS®  system, involves selecting for low primary fibre diameter and high levels of fibre density and length, and has been applied to hundreds of Merino sheep flocks since its launch in 1988. The system of selection is based on the pre-papilla cell hypothesis of wool follicle formation and fibre size developed by Dr. Phillip Moore and co-workers.

Jim made several discoveries that allowed Merino sheep, for the first time, to be selected in a way that optimises fleece quantity and quality, eliminates mulesing, allows sheep to wean more lambs and makes sheep easier care. He showed that the “fibre bundle”, representing the fibres produced by the follicle group in the skin, is the basic unit of fleece structure, and that wool fibre density is achieved by breeding animals with closely packed fibre bundles.

Jim, in collaboration with Itochu Wool Limited, the then largest buyer of the Australian Merino wool, demonstrated in numerous global processing trials that SRS®  wool produced consistently longer Hauteur, less short fibre, and less noil. The yarn was soft and silky, exceptionally strong with very good natural strength and elasticity. Yarn breakages during spinning were reduced by 20% to 30%. The fabrics were described as feeling more like cashmere than a traditional wool fabric with excellent draping qualities, a natural ability to stretch, less creasing, and a deep rich appearance after dyeing, particularly with pastel colours.

Ian Smith, International Business Manager

Ian has extensive experience in international trade across a broad range of industries and multiple disciplines including sales, business development, marketing, market entry strategy, regulatory and project management. Ian is a former Australian Trade Commissioner for the Midwest region of the United States and Team Leader for the Australian Trade Commission's agribusiness and consumer teams in the US.

Having grown up on Merino enterprise near Wellington, NSW, Ian spent the early part of his career in corporate agribusiness in Australia working for animal health, biotech and nutrition companies to register, commercialize and launch new products. He graduated with a degree in Agricultural Science from the University of Sydney and earned a Graduate Diploma in Business Studies (major in International Business) from the University of New England.

Ian brings to the position a true passion for Australian agriculture, the Merino industry and the development of rural & regional communities.