Apparel Wool, Meat for a Feast
Armidale district Dohne Merino flock’s role in methane reduction trial
A self-replacing flock of Dohne merinos is playing a key role in a groundbreaking two-year study led by researchers at the University of New England (UNE).
The study analyses a seaweed-based feed additive with the potential to reduce methane emissions by more than 50 per cent.
Brian Shaw, Saumarez Ponds, near Armidale, runs 1000 Dohne Merino ewes, which produce about 130 per cent lambs from which he keeps 300 hoggets for flock replacements. Continue reading
Christmas Newsletter 2024
What a Year!
The focus for the first half of the year was the Feature Breed Celebration at ASWS in Bendigo in July.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this such a great success! We hosted a celebration dinner at the Shamrock Hotel which was a great opportunity to gather socially with judges and new and old attendees.
We also hosted the second site visit to Coonong Station for the AMSEA Dohne Merino Evaluation. All information has now been gathered and the results will be available soon. Again, thanks to Tom and Sophie Holt for hosting this valuable trial and all staff and volunteers for the huge amount of work you have done over the past years. Continue reading
Dohne Wool Dominates in the West
Out west, the Dohne breed is making its mark on the Supreme Clip of the Sale competition. Unique to Western Australia, this weekly award goes to growers whose wool is selected as best in the Elders catalogue at each of the 43 wool sales for the year.
Despite saying that “I’ve always thought it’d be a rainy day before they ever give me an award,” David Kain from Far Valley Dohne Stud came away with the Supreme Clip of the Sale during the 2022/23 season. Other Dohne wool winners for the year included some of Mr Kain’s clients. Continue reading
Dohne-cross lambs hit new high at Bendigo sales
Dohne ewes are an ideal fit for Rod and Anne Baker's mixed farming operation in Victoria, producing quality, fast-growing prime lambs that consistently perform well, often topping the local market in Bendigo.
This year the Baker family sold about 700 Dohne-cross lambs, averaging an impressive 38 to 40 kilograms carcase weight, from late May through to early June, recording the sale top for three weeks in a row.
"We averaged $254 a head across the entire draft of just over 700 10 month-old lambs, with a top of $270 a head," Mr Baker said.
"I do focus on our costs of production and out of the $254 average for our lambs, the costs were about $40, including marking, shearing and grain, I think that's pretty good."
Wolf Pack looks to breed’s future
THE future of Dohne sheep is in good hands with the formation of the 'Wolf Pack', a group of young, motivated breeders committed to the development and growth of the breed in Australia.
An initiative of the Australian Dohne Breeders Association's National Council, Wolf Pack member and spokesperson Matthew Mills said the group was the voice of the next generation of Dohne breeders.
"The group also aims to provide young stud breeders with exposure to the policies and plans that are in place for the Dohne breed and hopefully encourage them to consider joining the National Council in the future." Continue reading
Wool and carcase traits work for Clarkes
THE dual-purpose attributes of the Dohne breed have given We tern Australian mixed farmers, the Clarke family, a significant boost in the productivity in its sheep operation.
Based at Goomalling, fourth-generation farmer Ian Clarke and his son Callum currently run a self-replacing Dohne flock of 1600 ewes on their property, Karinella Farm, alongside a 1600 hectare cropping program, comprising wheat, barley and lupins which are sown in a companion system with tillage radish.
"The Dohnes have really added another dimension to our farming operation in the amount of sheep we can run, the ease of selling the lambs off and they are returning good money.
"What gives the Dohne its edge is their frame, they are big-bodied sheep, and all we have to do is fill that frame." Continue reading
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