Bruce McGregor

My research is focused on rare natural fibres including cashmere, mohair, wool and alpaca, their fundamental properties and textile quality. This work aims to improve animal fibre quality and suitability for textiles. The subjects have ranged from understanding the lifetime effects of nutrition management before and following birth, to lifetime effects of animal size on fibre quality and understanding the effects of the farm environment on textile quality. My view is that if you are going to keep these animals then let's get the best products possible from them while looking after the animals welfare and environment.

Other research has focussed on long-term effects of grazing management on pastures, fibre production, animal development and farm profitabilty, fundamental fibre properties such as softness, colour, fibre cuticle structure, fibre curvature and contaminant fibres.

Since 2010 research as the Program leader with the Australian Cooperative Research Centre into Sheep Industry Innovation has evaluated the comfort propereties for next-to-skin knitwear. This involves multi-state collaborations focussed on how wool knitwear quality can be manipulated by fibre, yarn and knitting with a direct application via textile manufacturers.

One aspect of my research which has given great satisfaction is collaborations with a number of overseas scientists on cashmere and alpaca research. This has allowed me to visit many countries where many people living in harsh environments depend completely upon their animals for their livelihood including: China, Bolivia, Argentina, Peru, South Africa, Iran, and India.

Part of my international work is as a pro bono Associate Editor for the international scientific journal, Small Ruminant Research. My work has also provided considerable experience in new animal industry development in Australia including business and industry strategic planning, farmer and investor decision making, farmer training and technology transfer.

I have had a long-term interest in community development, and environmental restoration. My involvement in waterway catchment restoration in northern Melbourne, Victoria, provided considerable experience in management of multi-stakeholder collaborations. In 2003 the Australian Government awarded a Centenary of Federation Medal in recognition for this work.