December Newsletter 2023

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ADBA Office
Christmas break – The secretary’s office will be closed for Christmas holidays starting Thursday 21 December 2023 and reopening Monday 8 January 2024.
 
Sheep Genetics Analysis
The last analysis for 2023 will be:
•    DOHNE MERINO – Thursday 7th December
The first analysis for 2024 will be:
•    DOHNE MERINO – Friday 6th January

Dohne Sale Results

VIC Ultimate Dohne Ram Sale, Nurcoung VIC
49 rams sold to $2500 and averaged $1311.

Stirling Private Selection Day, Glenthompson VIC
7 rams sold to $4000 and averaged $1857.

Stud Principal Murray Rogerson with the top priced ram purchased by Macquarie and Kardinia Dohne Studs. 

2024 Australian Sheep and Wool Show
This is a gentle reminder to get your expressions of interest in for competing at the 2024 Australian Sheep and Wool Show. This is a massive opportunity for our association and one we intend to embrace and take major advantage of and we hope as many members as possible will be able to participate in some form over the course of the weekend. We would like to encourage as many studs as possible to consider participating in this event in some form or another (exhibiting, competing, attendance); and let’s make this the best Feature Breed showing the event has seen!
The event will again host the Dohne AGM (being held in the marquee this year), and a Dohne Merino Association Dinner for members will be held on the Saturday night.
The Expression of Interest needs to be returned to secretary@dohne.com.au by COB Friday 15 December 2023. 

States’ Year in Review NSW
As I write the Eastern states are receiving some much-needed rain, some falls in Northern NSW and Southern QLD have been in excess of 200mm in areas which hopefully will relieve the current crisis in the sheep industry.
On property ram sale results this year have been mixed with an overall clearance rate of 86% down from 91% last year. Total rams sold at auction in 2023 were 546 from 637 offered. Top price achieved at auction was $6000 from the Gullendah stud with Macquarie $5000, Tablelands $4400, Calga $4000, Alfoxton $3750.
The States top auction average of $2447 went to the Gullendah Dohne Stud who also achieved a 100% clearance of their 110 rams offered, a great result. The overall State average price at public auction ($1675) was back a substantial $540 on 2022 figures which was to be expected with the decline in overall sheep prices.
Just a reminder that the DOHNE will be the feature breed at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo 2024, I encourage all stud and commercial breeders to attend and continue to showcase the qualities that make our breed a truly diverse animal.
I would like to wish everyone a happy festive season and good luck with the oncoming season.
The Land – Dohne Sale Reports – Click Here
David Berrell, ADBA NSW President 

$6,000 top price and $2447 top average for NSW – Gullendah Dohne Stud.

States’ Year in Review Victoria
Following on from last year’s extraordinarily wet spring, Huwie forgot to turn the tap off in the west and Tasmania until June when a severe shut-off produced the 4th driest spring in 50 years giving a huge protein lift to grass species. One of our best grazing years. The rainfall fluxion, standard in the east, is trending west and southwards.
Gippsland, conversely was suffering drought by October when a massive East Coast low intervened, covering a large portion of NSW and most of Victoria, lifting the EYCI (Eastern Young Cattle Indicator) from 320 cents to 500 cents overnight.
After running 4 Ram Auctions in 2021, 2023 saw 1 auction at Koonik the VIC Ultimate Dohne Ram Sale which including rams from the following studs: Koonik, JAG and Hamilton Run with an 82% clearance of 49 rams out of 60. A private Selection Day was held at Stirling clearing 7 rams. Stirling received top price and average at $4000 and $1857, $400 above last year’s state top, whilst the state average of $1379 was down from last year’s $1461.
Murray Rogerson, ADBA Victorian President 

$4,000 top price and $1857 top average for Victoria – Stirling Dohne Stud.

AMSEA Coonong Sire Evaluation Open Day
On Wednesday 21 February 2024, the ADBA will be holding an Open Day at Coonong Station, Urana NSW. The Coonong Sire Evaluation Open Day will be a special event for the ADBA with the release of the ewe reproductive data from the Dohne Sire Evaluation Trial. In addition, the results of the meat-eating-quality tests will be presented. On the day, the ewes currently in the evaluation will be on display, and details of the 2nd year of reproduction phase of the evaluation will be discussed. The following day (Thursday 22^nd) there will be a debriefing held with all members welcome to also attend.
The ADBA will be providing morning tea and lunch on the day.

Expressions of Interest for a Photographer
The ADBA is looking for a dedicated photographer for next year’s Australian Sheep and Wool Show at Bendigo VIC.
As you are all fully aware the Dohne will be the Feature Breed in 2024. The association would like to capture this milestone event with quality photos. 
You would need to be able to attend the 3 days, Friday 19 to Sunday 21 July 2024. 
If you have artistic flair and a strong eye for visual storytelling, we would love hear from you, please email admin@dohne.com.au.