June Newsletter 2026

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The Dohne Merino Calendar is out now! – Click Here 
Our new innovative calendar showcases the exceptional attributes of Dohne Merino sheep, including high
fertility, lean meat, and fine wool. Each month highlights the breed’s productivity and resilience. Thank you to all members and sponsors who have supported this publication. Copies will be available in July at Australian Sheep and Wool Show, Bendigo VIC and the Community Bank Gilgandra & Central West Bendigo Bank NSW Dohne Prime Lamb Schools Competition, Orange NSW. 

2026 Events 

Final Countdown to the Australian Sheep and Wool Show!
The Dohne Merino Australia team is excited to be heading to the 2026 Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo, where our dedicated Dohne Merino Marquee will once again provide a welcoming and focused space to showcase the breed and connect with members, sponsors and the wider sheep industry.
Friday Education Program – Our annual education program continues to grow and this year we are delighted to welcome 41 students to participate in a hands-on learning experience, including 21 students from Longerenong College and 20 students from Moama Anglican Grammar.
Friday will also feature the Dohne Merino Fleece Competition, proudly judged by Fox & Lillie Rural, alongside a special display showcasing fleeces from Victorian Commercial Dohne Merino Breeders, highlighting the quality and commercial performance of the Dohne Merino breed.
Saturday Showing Program – will feature Dohne sheep classes, industry Tech Talks and the lunchtime Ethical Outback Wool Dohne Garments Fashion Parade. 
Thank You to Our Sponsors – This event would not be possible without the incredible support of our sponsors. We sincerely thank: Elders, Shearwell, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Riverina Wool Testers, Australian Merino Exports, Fox & Lillie Rural, Ellis Nuttall & Co, Ethical Outback Wool, Woven Optics, Heiniger Australia, AWI, MLA, ACM and Country Trucker Caps.
Join Us in Bendigo – We look forward to welcoming members, exhibitors, sponsors and visitors to the Dohne Merino Marquee at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show.
Dates: Friday 17 – Sunday 19 July 2026
Location: Australian Sheep and Wool Show, Bendigo, Victoria
See you in Bendigo for what promises to be another outstanding celebration of the Dohne Merino breed!
For full events program – Click Here

Community Bank Gilgandra & Central West Bendigo Bank NSW Dohne Prime Lamb Schools Competition 
The Inaugural Community Bank Gilgandra & Central West Bendigo Bank NSW Dohne Prime Lamb Schools Competition is progressing strongly, with schools now well underway in this exciting hands-on agricultural learning program.
In July, students will select two wether lambs per school, which will then be transported to Gundagai Meat Processors for slaughter and carcass data collection.
It is anticipated that approximately 260 students will participate in the Orange event. The day will include guest speakers from across the agricultural industry, sponsor trade displays, stud breeder displays, and educational workshops with hands-on learning opportunities. 
View the full competition day timetable here – Click Here
We extend our appreciation to all sponsors supporting this year’s competition: Community Bank Gilgandra & Central West Bendigo Bank, Currey Family – Bogewong Butcher Co, Gundagai Meat Processors, Woven Optics & Heiniger Australia, For Flocks Sake Veterinary Sheep Consultants, CB Rural Contracting, Bralca 2.0 Agricultural Consultants, Ben Simmons Scanning, Elders, Shearwell Australia, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Riverina Wool Testers, Daniel Camilleri / Hooked on Hounds, Inland Petroleum, Dawbuts Pty Ltd, Dubbo AGnVET & Darling Irrigation, Monster Signs, Country Trucker Caps, Furneys Stock Feeds, and Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).
Your ongoing commitment is helping develop the next generation of Australian sheep and wool industry leaders.

Annual General Meeting
The AGM of the ADBA will be held in Orange NSW at 6:30pm AEST. Tuesday 28th July. The day before the Community Bank Gilgandra & Central West Bendigo Bank NSW Dohne Prime Lamb Schools Competition that has involved 26 schools from all over NSW.
This is a great chance for all Dohne Merino Breeders to get together and plan for our future. It is a great timing because wool prices have finally caught up with the excellent lamb and mutton prices, which puts our Dohne Merino Breed at the forefront of prime lamb, self-replacing flocks with quality figures from Sheep Genetics ASBVs and AMSEA evaluations.
You will be receiving important information from the ADBA regarding changes to the Constitution and the new tiered breeding system very soon. Please consider these changes and if you can’t make it to Orange in person, please fill in the proxy forms, or even better, join the meeting via Zoom.
 If you have any questions, please get in touch with me on 0417 833 893 or greghall669@gmail.com. All your Councillors are always available too- John Nadin heads up the Tiered System Committee and Daniel Pumpa is leading the School Competition.
At the conclusion of the week Allan Casey will lead a Dohne Ram Breeders’ course on Thursday 30th July which will include the Tiered System alternatives.
I hope you can come and join in the culmination of this educational event. We plan a get-together for a meal on Wednesday night at 7:30pm, venue TBC. Please contact Tanya Barton 0429 2028 674 for further information re accommodation and other details. Looking forward to catching up in Orange!!
Greg Hall, ADBA President 

Dohne Ram Breeders Course – 30 July 2026
A practical one day workshop will be held to bring stud and commercial breeders up to date in the latest subjective and objective selection practices.
To be held at Orange Showground NSW following the Schools’ Dohne Prime Lamb Competition. The course will also be ideally suited to teachers and students.
The practical steps in setting a breeding objective, recording and reporting all traits and using breeding values will be worked through by leaders in their fields. A major focus will be the process used to get the most out of the industry’s latest advances in selecting for Reproduction.
Ram and ewe hands-on exercises throughout the day will ensure a complete breeding system can be effectively undertaken.
The workshop will start at 8am and conclude at 3pm.
The course will be run by ADBA life member Allan Casey along with Dohne data manager Brett Wilson and will include a session by Peta Bradley, Operations Manager Sheep Genetics.
Expressions of interest in attending, including number of people, names, contact details, can be emailed to admin@dohne.com.au. For any questions contact John Nadin 0427 474 610.
For full program – Click Here

World Dohne Merino Conference, South Africa 
The Dohne Merino Society of SA is excited to host the World Dohne Merino Conference in 2026. This event will be in collaboration with the 60 year of existence of the Dohne Merino Society of South Africa.
The launched the official website for the conference is now up: https://conference.dohnemerino.com
Bookings can be made directly on the website and they will be posting more information as the time passes.
The Dohne Merino World Conference, to be held from 18 – 24 October 2026, at the Arabella Hotel, in Hermanus, South Africa. This prestigious event promises to bring together Dohne Merino breeders, industry experts, and enthusiasts from across the globe, fostering collaboration, innovation, and excellence in our shared passion.
The week after the conference (26 to 31 October 2026), we are planning a post-conference tour to the central and eastern parts of South Africa.