"We can’t justify breeding crossbred lambs anymore because the Dohne lambs bring in more money." INTRODUCING the Dohne breed and a new feeding system has increased lamb survival rates and profits for the Boyne family. Peter Boyne, together with his brother Richard and his wife Fran and their two children Shane and Reece own 8000 hectares in the Koorda district in WA and over the last four years have undergone a transformation of the Dohne kind. Due to the dry seasonal conditions and management reasons the Boynes have recently made the decision to phase out their Merinos and slowly breed up to a pure Dohne flock.   Continue reading →

IN a world becoming increasingly socially conscious on animal welfare, social responsibility and environmental sustainability, the wool industry will always be subject to constant change and innovation. Over the past 30 years, and in particular the past 3, mulesing has been at the forefront of focus from both within and beyond the industry. While Australia and New Zealand are at the global forefront of not only government regulation but also a communal push to improve their practices, it can be seen that the most significant influence on the wool industry is from consumers and retailers. Continue reading →

KEEPING A FOCUS on the wool side of the equation, James and Josephine Clark’s Dohne flock is producing good results. In fact, they’re even giving some Merino producers a run for their money. Continue reading →

2020 All Stars Masterchef contestant Hayden Quinn, was lucky enough to wrap his fangs around some very good Dohne Merino lamb from Trevor, Kaye and Nigel Bottrall’s farm “Greenslopes” in Jamestown, South Australia. Unwrapping the lamb the high quality of the meat was immediately obvious just from looking at the different cuts; the deep red meat is surrounded by a consistent, milky white fat layer which is perfect to ensure the meat remains tender and moist during cooking. Continue reading →

TOUGH conditions faced by farmers in Bremer Bay, Western Australia, have proven the durability of Dohnes to commercial sheep breeder and wool classer, Julie Leenhouwers, seeing wool results exceed expectations. ‘Cardiminup’, sits on approximately 2800 acres right on the coast of Bremer Bay between Albany and Esperance and generally experiences high rainfall with the last couple of years seeing drier, more challenging conditions. Continue reading →

NOEL CLEAR is on track to build his Dohne flock on his property in Bracknell, Tasmania. The traditionally high rainfall region, has presented some breeding challenges in the past with his original flock of Merinos. Mr Clear’s property ‘Gaters’, 1,400 acres 33km southwest of Launceston, Tasmania is a mixed farming operation running Angus cattle, Merino and now Dohne sheep. Continue reading →

AFTER A DROP in the wool market during 2007, commercial breeder and shearer Brad Blackwood looked to change his strategy in sheep. Finding the Dohne to be capable of providing more than just quality wool, the breed made a mark on the productivity of the family operation with its dual-purpose traits. Continue reading →

IT’S NOT just traditional grazing operators that swear by the Dohne, feedlotters are hopping on board the dual-purpose sheep too. South Australia’s Shayne Willmott and his family run a mixed farming operation and a feedlot on 3,000 acres in Manoora, marketing their own Dunira Prime Lamb brand to butchers locally and internationally. Continue reading →

THE DOHNE sheep are hardy animals and continually prove to be the most versatile breed on the market. For commercial breeder Andrew Tunstill, switching to the Dohne has improved the viability of his business, even in the harshest of seasons. Andrew and his veterinarian wife Kirsten Tunstill live near Kalannie in the central wheatbelt of Western Australia. Kirsten stumbled across the breed through her veterinary work and was extremely impressed, telling Andrew to look into them immediately. Continue reading →