Trevor Nicholson has spent 40 years closely connected with the wool industry in various roles as a grazier, shearer and shearing contractor, wool broker at Dubbo for 13 years, sheep classer and ram buyer.
Not content to rest, he has just completed a Bachelor of Social Science (Welfare) at CSU Bathurst, and has started a Masters in Ethics and Legal Studies at CSU Bathurst.
“Hopefully one day I will do a Doctorate on Merino's with four and six teats,” he mused.
Now based in Wellington, Mr Nicholson grew up on the family property at Goodooga before moving to Glen Innes and eventually acquiring a share in a grazing partnership at Inverell.
With that solid background in sheep and wool, it was natural for Mr Nicholson, who also has a Masters Qualification in Animal Breeding Management (genetics) from University of Sydney, to be keenly interested in the Soft Rolling Skin (SRS) concepts developed by Dr Jim Watts.
“I became aware of SRS about 23-25 years ago,” he said. “It was a ‘light-bulb’ moment at West Wyalong at an SRS workshop, I organised.”
Mr Nicholson admitted he had been classing wool and sheep along the traditionally accepted lines as his grandfather taught, like driving a T Model, but he quickly adopted the SRS principles when he saw the results.
“I saw a clear approach to profitability, animal genetics and welfare,” he said. “Jim has developed a practical ‘hands on’ system based on animal science that has changed the shape of the animal and wool industry and enhanced our opportunity to sell wool that is ethically grown and satisfying our customer demands.”
Mr Nicholson said the SRS concept is making an outstanding contribution to understanding the processes of growing wool on a Merino sheep which meets current and future demands.
“Specifically producing a highly aligned, deep bold crimp to produce a fibre with better elasticity and lustre to meet processor’s expectations,” he explained.
Mr Nicholson embraced the SRS principles because of the profitability gained by running the plain-bodied sheep with correct skin and fleece structure.
“This has come from breeding Merino sheep with soft pliable skin,” he said. “It is a dual purpose animal growers are looking for, with high fertility and excellent red meat yield, and has been under their nose for years.”
He further stressed the advantages when animal health and welfare issues of mulesing are raised.
Need to meet customer demands
Mr Nicholson pointed out these are his own opinions, based on education and hands on experience but said more growers could lift the returns from their Merino operation by embracing the SRS concept.
“Make an informed decision, based on what you individually have learned, not what your grandfather did or your wool broker or stud master tells you or just plain hearsay,” he said.
“Are you still driving that T Model Ford or have you embraced science and technology with ASBV’S, that I have been using for 10 years?
“We need to meet customer ethical needs, and I believe with correct management the SRS wool and sheep are ticking those boxes.
“Animal rights issues as illustrated by the Greyhound ban are looming, and the industry needs to take notice.”
