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 Ian Watt commenced his agricultural career at Roseworthy College, in South Australia, from whence he graduated and then went on to lecture there in sheep, cattle (both beef and dairy) and pig production after a stint of share-farming and manager of a merino ram production stud.
He taught shearing, classing and general sheep wool production before moving on to Papua New Guinea as a specialist animal production extension officer. Whilst there he wrote his first animal production book and worked for the World Bank on several animal production projects.
After setting up an objective meat measurement program for some pork producers back in South Australia, Ian went on to develop a career in real estate where he wrote his second book and operated three offices employing over 25 realtors.
He has been in alpacas since 1991 when he purchased his foundation herd in Australia and proceeded on a specialty breeding program for white fiber alpacas.
He became involved in the development of the Australian Alpaca Association (the AAA) and served at both the regional level and the National Committee before accepting the nomination as National President for a four year term followed by four years as the Immediate Past President. During this time he published and edited his third, and first alpaca, book and this has been followed by the first in a series of booklets on alpaca fiber.
He spent a further year as an observer for the AAA on the Board of the Alpaca Co-operative before moving to America to be near his now wife, Marilynn Scoggins. Ian had a year as the President of the SoCalpaca affiliate to AOBA and is currently a Board member of AOBA at the national level.
Ian consults on many aspects of the industry and is probably best known for his seminars and workshops focusing on superior breeding programs incorporating the SRS protocols developed in Australia by Dr Jim Watts.
Ian has spoken at various national conferences in Australia and the USA and has traveled extensively throughout Australia, New Zealand and the USA.
He operates the only OFDA 2000 fiber testing service for alpaca breeders anywhere in the world and also provides cutting-edge scientific breeding data through a skin biopsy evaluation service.
His long time involvement in the wool and alpaca industry offer him a unique opportunity to create educational opportunities that benefit a wide range of experienced alpaca breeders internationally.
Together with his lecturing experience in both Australia and Papua New Guinea, Ian's practical experience gives his presentations a very real "hands-on" emphasis and a practical outlook on the broader industry development he is keen to participate in.
Fiber Testing Services
Alpaca Consulting USA
Address:
Alpaca Consulting USA
1540 San Bernardo Creek Road
Morro Bay, CA 93442
Testing Method(s): OFDA2000.
Scour before sending sample: Not required for samples sent from
within the US.
Sample prep by tester: Unknown.
Pricing:
01-06 samples USD$15.00
07-XX samples USD$12.00 per sample
Contact: Ian Watt,
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
, 805-772-1774
Website: www.alpacaconsultingusa.com
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Testing fiber for objective assessment is a significant selection tool for all breeders who aspire to make the next generation better than the last – and isn’t that the sole goal for any breeding plan?
For some years the future growth and prosperity of the US alpaca industry has seemed assured in both demand and price. The recent economic melt-down, the near collapse of the financial markets and underlying investor insecurity together with the explosion of the housing bubble have left investors and the general public shaken and feeling somewhat battered.
