The initial phase of the evaluation will see the wether and ewe progeny separated at weaning. The wether progeny will be grown out, shorn and slaughtered at approximately 10 months of age. They’ll then be evaluated for growth rate and carcass traits - eye muscle, fat depth and evenness, intra muscular fat, meat to bone ratio and meat eating quality. Ewe progeny will be carried through and shorn post-12 months of age so that data surrounding fleece traits can be measured as accurately as possible. In the second phase of the evaluation, the maiden daughters of the sires will be joined and reproductive data will be collected, measuring their reproductive performance. For commercial sheep enterprises, reproductive performance is key. This reproduction focused evaluation will provide accurate data to speak to the Dohne’s ability to produce a very high percentage of lambs of exceptional quality. Continue reading →

This sire evaluation will give the ADBA a chance to validate and give numeric credit to the breed’s Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) of individual sires from across Australia as well as within flock breeding values (FBVs). As all the progeny will be DNA’d the Genomic data collected will be invaluable. Sire evaluations commenced in 1989 and have primarily focussed on the evaluation of Merino sires over Merino ewes. This is the first trial in Australia and possibly the world where Dohne ewes are used to focus on evaluating commercial Dohne values. Continue reading →

An excellent face to face ‘think tank’ meeting was held in Adelaide from Monday 22 to Wednesday 24 February, with the Western Australian councillors attending by using the zoom platform. Zoom has been used regularly over the past year for council and subcommittee meetings. Councillors welcomed Darren Gurnett to his first Face to Face meeting and looks forward to working with Darren on Council matters. Thank you to Cameron Hills for once again organising this annual meeting and assisting in the provision of a well run and successful two days. Results and details from this meeting will be forwarded to members shortly. Continue reading →

Sheep Genetics Dohne current Top Sire List as of the 15 February 2021. Since the inception Sheep Genetics has displayed a top Dohne sire list. For accuracy and merit, standard requirements (default) are progeny from 2 or more flocks and 15 progeny in the current drop. The search engine enables breeders a wider individual search but the actual top sire list is the default setting. Continue reading →

Members are to be congratulated on their ram sale results off the back of prolonged drought, low wool prices and low national breeding ewe numbers. Council has some exciting projects on the table for 2021. One in particular is the Dohne Sire Evaluation which commence’s with Artificial Insemination on January 25. A big thank you is extended to the Holt family for running the trial and providing the ewes, management and staff. Thank you to those members who have entered a sire, we have a great representation by state, genetics and ASBVs. The information collected from this evaluation will be invaluable in progressing our breed and, with the changing face of the Australian Sheep Industry, aid in seeing the Dohne flourish in years to come. Continue reading →

The secretary's office will be closed for Christmas holidays starting Wednesday 9 December 2020 and reopening Tuesday 12 January 2021. There will be only one more Dohne Analysis this year, that will run on Monday 7 December 2020. Sheep Genetics will not be running the December 21 analysis for 2020. Reminder to all members, when submitting data, please use the new Dohne Data Submission Request Form. National Promotions has decided to produce a revamped high quality journal. One size advert, is being offered to members and that is 1/4 A4 page. These will be published early March 2021, and will be distributed to each state so that they can be promoted at next year’s field days and sales. Continue reading →