DAVID Agnew is reaping the rewards as a result of his Dohne operation, with greater things on the horizon. Initially directing his focus to achieving solid body weight, Mr Agnew is now looking to fully experience what the Dohne can provide maternally, with a goal of increasing his already consistent lambing percentage. “Each year, we comfortably and consistently would achieve 125% lambing. Of course, I’m happy with this result but my experience with the breed leads me to believe that I can achieve close to 150% if I put in as much ground work as the ewes do in terms of maintenance and good feed,” said Mr Agnew. Continue reading →

WOOL and livestock specialist Iain Goddard has been in the sheep industry for 25 years, giving him a wealth of exposure to multiple regions across Australia and the levels of success producers are having with their sheep-based operations. Experience and clientele combined, Mr Goddard has helped support many producers make on-farm transitions that will look to help them achieve maximum productivity and the best return off their livestock as possible. The platform for making these transitions is for his clients to benefit from solid fertility - achieving a higher percentage of lambing ultimately gives you more lambs, more wool and generally more product to sell. Continue reading →

100% natural, renewable and biodegradable, wrinkle-resistant, naturally breathable, body temperature regulating, odour and stain-resistant to UV and fire resistant - there are a multitude of inherent benefits in wool…..BUTT….Consumer awareness about mulesing has become so common that 180 + major global brands have strongly advised the Australian wool industry that they will no longer use wool that comes from mulesed sheep. A list of powerful fashion stakeholders is further evidence that Australia’s wool industry must listen to their customers and prepare for a non-mulesed future, or risk being left behind. Dohnes – ‘The NATURAL bare-breech sheep breed with quality Merino wool’. Continue reading →

A MARLBOROUGH sheep farmer is using his extensive knowledge of Merino breeding to provide cool comfort for hundreds of cyclists pedalling the hot tarmac roads over summer. Martin Pattie has spent a lifetime working towards developing a Merino sheep breed producing high quality meat and fine durable wool in drought-like conditions. Together with partner Lyn Brown, Pattie grows, processes, manufactures and sells merino cloth and clothing to customers in New Zealand and around the world. Pattie’s parents chanced upon the South African Dohne Merino breed in 1999 after attending a Merino sheep breeders conference in South Africa. He wanted a breed which could withstand the very dry summer conditions in Marlborough, as well as produce wool under 23 microns. Continue reading →

THE dual-purpose attributes of the Dohne breed have given Tasmanian mixed farmers Richard and Sarah Johnston increased market flexibility, with their annual draft of crossbred lambs in strong demand from processors. The Johnston family take care of a 460-hectare property, Esk Farm, near Longford, running 2000 Merino and Dohne/Merino-cross ewes. They also grow a range of crops for both fodder and seed, including peas, grass seed, clover, chicory, lucerne, wheat and barley and lucerne and grass hay production and run a contract spraying business. Traditional wool growers, the Johnstons decided to introduce Dohnes to their operation more than 10 years ago and continue to be pleased with the breed’s wool quality, fertility and growth. They currently run 1000 Merino and Dohne/Merino-cross ewes joined to Dohne rams for replacements, along with 1000 Dohne/Merino-cross ewes which are joined to Poll Dorset and Southdown rams. The flock micron average is 18.5. Continue reading →

INCREASED fertility, doability and lamb production are some of the benefits introducing Dohne genetics in the flock at Milbey, Wallandbeen. Luke Wells, who manages the property for owners David and Kandee Thorn, is currently running 5000 ewes, and has been using Dohne genetics for the past four years. "We were after a plainer bodied sheep for the flies and to step away from mulesing, which we've done for the last three years." Continue reading →

FOR Wayne Hodge, regardless of season, it’s the Dohne breed that will allow him to remain at full productivity. ‘Everglen’ of Lock, South Australia, sits at 4,000 hectares and is comprised of two-thirds cropping and one-third sheep. Previously running Merinos and crossbreds, Mr Hodge made the shift to the Dohnes approximately 10 years ago which gave his operation the simultaneous benefit of meat quality as well as wool. The majority of Mr Hodge’s Dohne flock are purebred, running 1,650 breeding ewes and 800 ewe lambs. “As an ex-shearer, I saw a variety of breeds getting around and I particularly noticed that these sheep were in better condition than a traditional Merino, especially in tougher years.” “Since getting into them ourselves, we have experienced exactly that,” said Mr Hodge. Continue reading →