The self-replacing Dohne breed is set to play a major role in stabilising and improving the nation’s rapidly declining breeding ewe base. Sheep industry consultant and Lamb Forecasting Advisory Committee member, Geoff Duddy, said the Dohnes improved weaning percentages were a major profit driver within the industry. “We are down to 41 million breeding ewes nationally and are really at the crossroads,’’ Mr Duddy said. Continue reading →

Dohne rams sold to a top of $20,000 under the hammer and by private treaty during the inaugural Global Dohne Conference last week. The multi-vendor National Ram Sale was held as part of a gala function at Dubbo, NSW, on Friday, and drew 13 vendors offering 39 lots. A total of 23 rams sold for a gross of $110,750 and average of $4815. Continue reading →

Dohne breed pioneer Cameron McMaster was honoured with a life membership of the Australian Dohne Breeders Association during the inaugural Global Dohne Conference. Mr McMaster and his wife Rhoda received a standing ovation after being presented with a commemorative plaque by Australian Dohne Breeders Association past president David Kain at a celebratory function in Dubbo on Friday. Affectionately known as the “father of the breed’’, Mr McMaster, 79, is one of only three surviving foundation members of the South African Dohne Merino Society formed in 1966. Continue reading →

Future challenges for the Dohne breed lay with combining Dohne and Merino breeding values, increasing the use of genomics and widening the use of non-Dohne genetics. They were key messages heard by national and international delegates at the inaugural Global Dohne Conference hosted by the Australia Dohne Breeders Association. Held at Dubbo on July 21-22, the conference drew 44 international delegates from South Africa, Uruguay, United States and New Zealand, and 139 from five Australian states. Continue reading →

A fleece from an October shorn flock ewe has won the overall champion Dohne fleece at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show fleece competition. The fleece came from first time entrants, Caroonboon Station, Wanganella, NSW, owned by the Pye family, and was sashed as the champion Dohne stud ewe or wether fleece. Continue reading →

Dohne sheep returned to the show ring after a 40-year global absence to unveil a unique judging system combining objective data and subjective assessment at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show. Held on July 16-17 at Bendigo, the judging drew 60 rams from four states and featured a weighted index for carcass and wool traits, combined with visual assessment. Continue reading →

Niche markets for non-mulesed and ethically produced wool have been achieved by a Riverina family after a switch to the Dohne breed.

Tom and Sophie Holt run a sheep, cattle and irrigated cropping enterprise at Urana and Jerilderie and have… Continue reading →

The combined carcass and wool value of Dohnes is proving the goods in a vertically integrated broadacre cropping operation in northern New South Wales.

The O’Brien family of Walgett value add their cereal and pulse crops through an on-farm sheep… Continue reading →

The weight gain and finishing ability of the Dohne has turned a Tasmanian wool and first cross lamb enterprise on its head. Askin and Cate Morrison ran a traditional fine wool enterprise in the Midlands but consistently had trouble finishing lambs to a saleable 13-18kg dressed weight before the harsh winters set in. Continue reading →

Dohne lambs have stacked up for carcass traits and market suitability by taking out the export class at this year’s Dubbo Show Prime Lamb Hoof and Hook competition. Purebred lambs filled three of the four top carcass placings in the export class in the competition, held in May at Fletcher International. Catering for pens of six, the competition drew a record 528 entries from 12 maternal, terminal and composite breeds. Continue reading →