March Newsletter 2026

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NSW Dohne Prime Lamb Schools Competition Update
The Inaugural NSW Dohne Prime Lamb Competition is moving along really well. On Wednesday the 25 February we had 26 schools receive their 5 Dohne wether lambs to kick start the competition. All lambs were shorn, drenched for worms and lice, vaccinated and tagged with a Shearwell visual tag. Thank you to Shearwell for donating these visual tags.
All Schools were excited for a new breed of sheep ( with some schools competing in the Merino Challenge as well), this will be very exciting for both us and the schools to see the differences. 
Gundagai Meat Processors will now do two separate small kills for these lambs. Students will select two wether lambs the week of the 6 to 10 July to be transported to Gundagai Meat Processors on the 13 July for slaughter and carcass data in readiness for competition day. The remainder of the lambs (3) will come to Orange to have all other Selective and Objective Data taken, then these lambs will go back to a selected farm to be held for 3-4 weeks before going to Gundagai Meat Processors for processing. 
We still have sponsor spots available if you’re interested in supporting this event to keep it going for years to come. Sponsors will get a display site if they wish to have one, also stud members are encouraged to bring a pen of display rams or ewes. 
We would like to thanks the Currey Family, Walgett NSW once again for supplying the lambs, it is greatly appreciated.
Daniel Pumpa, Subcommittee Chair of the NSW Dohne Prime Lamb Schools Competition

L-R John Nadin, Jim and Mark Currey, Daniel Pumpa, Sandy Pye at Currey Family property Walgett NSW. 

Thankyou to Shearwell for donating these visual tags.

2026 Events

Australian Sheep and Wool Show – Dohne Merino Marquee
With our own large marquee at the ASWS; it allowing for a more personalized and focused promotional space for members and sponsors. Our annual education program is growing in numbers every year, we expect to see around 40 students at this event. The ADBA has decided to run with one shearing date for classes at the ASWS. The shearing date will be the first week of March (1 to 7 March 2026). This event will run from Friday 17 to Sunday 19 July 2026 at Bendigo VIC. 

Annual General Meeting
The ADBA AGM for 2026 will be held also at this major Orange milestone. The AGM will be conducted after the NSW Dohne Prime Lamb Schools Competition on the 29 July and a Zoom link will be available also.

Ram Breeders Course
The ADBA will be conducting a 1-day Ram Breeders course on the 30 July 2026 to coincide with the conclusion of the new School’s Prime Lamb Competition at Orange NSW. This course can be attended by all stud and commercial members, and the day will be facilitated by Allan Casey.
Expressions of interest in attending the course can be sent to secretary@dohne.com.au. 

World Dohne Merino Conference, South Africa 
The Dohne Merino Society of SA is excited to host the World Dohne Merino Conference in 2026. This event will be in collaboration with the 60 year of existence of the Dohne Merino Society of South Africa.
The launched the official website for the conference is now up: https://conference.dohnemerino.com
Bookings can be made directly on the website and they will be posting more information as the time passes.
The Dohne Merino World Conference, to be held from 18 – 24 October 2026, at the Arabella Hotel, in Hermanus, South Africa. This prestigious event promises to bring together Dohne Merino breeders, industry experts, and enthusiasts from across the globe, fostering collaboration, innovation, and excellence in our shared passion.
The week after the conference (26 to 31 October 2026), we are planning a post-conference tour to the central and eastern parts of South Africa.