Ian Watt

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 sharefarming 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 along a specialist breeding program for white fiibre.

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 fibre.

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 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.

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.