AMSEA Coonong Sire Evaluation Update Lamb marking at Coonong was Wednesday 26th June. On a clear and fine day 370 lambs were tagged and marked from 422 ewes at scanning. Ewes and lambs presented well with ewes scored at 2.6 condition score. The ewes are being hand fed barley at .5kg barley every alternate day even though there has been a good autumn break rain, with paddocks green but feed still short. Next event for the trial will be weaning and ewe scoring in early August. Thanks to all Coonong staff for their help on the day and also to Jim Meckiff, Lucinda Eddy and committee members who helped. Continue reading →

Vale Johnathon Alexander Stephens (Stevo) Council would like to inform members of the passing of Johnathon Alexander Stephens, known as Stevo on 7 June 2024. Stevo stepped into the manager role on Calga’s Southern property Caroonboon Station, Wanganella NSW. This was not long after the passing of Bill Pye in 2015. Stevo continued to manage Caroonboon up until his retirement in late 2023. During his 9 years at Caroonboon he was instrumental in a large infrastructure improvement programme; covered ram selling complex, ram shed, covered processing area, irrigation upgrade and workshop upgrade just to name a few. Stevo was a great friend, an extremely competent livestock person, a land manager, educator, plant operator, mechanic, a fabricator and so much more. Stevo was the dearest of friends to the Pye family and mentor to many and will be missed by all that know him. Continue reading →

The Show and Education Committee would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge and thank our sponsors that have come onboard this year; Elders, Shearwell, Sapien Technology, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Riverina Wool Testers, Ethical Outback Wool, Quality Wool, Central West Genetics, Fox & Lillie Rural and Australian Community Media. Continue reading →

Australian Sheep and Wool Show The Dohne Merino has been selected as the 2024 Feature Breed at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show. The Association’s Show Committee has been in regular contact with the Australian Sheep and Wool Show organisers, and we are delighted that our breed will be of prominence on this ‘big stage’ in July at Bendigo. Continue reading →

The annual face to face meeting of the ADBA Council was held at Naranderra in mid- February to coincide with the Coonong AMSEA Open Day. Firstly, I would like to thank Don Mills and his committee and Tom and Sophie Holt and the Coonong crew for making the trial and open day such a success. On Monday we spent most of the morning talking about the future of our Dohne Merino breed: looking at pathways for the future including a tiered breeding system, culling percentages, education, joint analysis with Sheep Genetics, Council structure, promotion and research. More information will come through as we receive information back from the relevant contacts. Continue reading →