Respected Adelaide-based sheep and wool consultant Brian Jefferies is being fondly remembered as one of the industry’s forward-thinkers, after his passing last week.
The 89 year-old was an early adopter of the Soft Rolling Skins principles to breed plain-bodied Merino sheep with long-stapled wool. He also embraced objective measurement for economic traits and focused on breeding sheep for increased profitability.
But some of his most significant work was internationally, developing three new breeds for South American conditions- the Patagonian Poll Merino, Patagonian Meat Merino and Patagonian White Suffolk.
After finishing dux in each of his three years at Roseworthy Agricultural College he undertook a three year Bachelor of Ag Science at the University of Adelaide. On graduating he joined the SA Department of Agriculture in 1953.
In ensuing years he worked in government research and extension in SA, Vic and Tas, including 14 years as the principal sheep and wool officer with the SA Department of Agriculture until 1986.
The following year he moved into private sheep consulting with many commercial clients in SA and WA until 2011.
He was conferred an Order of Australia medal for his services to sheep breeding in 1988.
Mr Jefferies’ first trip to South America was a four-month stint in 1956 in Uruguay teaching the tally-hi shearing method with two other Australian shearers. He and his young family spent four years in Argentina with the United Nations Food Agriculture Organisation from 1957 to 1960 breeding sheep for the harsh Patagonian environment.
He would return at least six more times during his lifetime.
Leahcim stud principal Andrew Michael, who took over Mr Jefferies’ South American work, said he was held in the highest regard by stud breeders in Chile and Argentina.
“Even as he got older his progressiveness was amazing for any sheep breeding person you would come across,” he said.
“He was a great adopter of any new technology and would have been one of the first traditional ones to embrace Australian Sheep Breeding Values as well as micron testing.”
Mr Jefferies is survived by his wife Betty, their four sons Chris, Steve, Tim and Phil, and ten grandchildren.
