Apparel Wool, Meat for a Feast
SA Dohne performs well in national Merino index
In their 20th year of breeding Dohnes, the Kelly family of Glen Holme stud at Manoora were recently surprised with a career achievement - one of their rams topped a Merino Superior Sires index.
The number one spot was in the Merino Lamb category in both the five-year update, ahead of 392 sires, and the all-time top 50, ahead of 648 sires.
According to Sheep Genetics, the ML index is based on a production system where the majority of income is from sheepmeat production, particularly lambs, with some income from adult ewe wool clips.
The index also focuses on genetic improvement of fleece weight, growth, lean meat yield, eating quality and reproduction, while reduced wrinkle is also included.
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February Newsletter 2025
Council’s annual Face to Face meeting will be held in Adelaide from Monday 3 to Wednesday 5 March 2025. Council would like to invite members to attend the meeting on Tuesday 4 March for discussion on a number of important topics regarding the future direction of the ADBA. (There is also a zoom link available for this day, if unable to attend). There will also be a casual member dinner held on Tuesday night at the hotel to allow everyone to mingle. Continue reading
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."
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