2014 Newsletter
Volume 13
The lamb & mutton market has once again surpassed all agriculture commodities. With China entering the market & South East Asia looking promising consistency in price looks like continuing. Identifying the key profit drivers is the key to a successful & profitable sheep operation. The dohne is the only sheep breed that ticks all the boxes.
Around the Traps in NSW On a recent client run in northern NSW the quality of the now F3, F4 & F5 hogget ewes is unsurpassed. In fact one flock I saw was equal to the best line of commercial hogget ewes I have ever seen. The hype throughout the industry over the last 12 months from some quarters has been ‘we need to cut more wool’. Not true!! As Cameron McMaster (Former South African Dohne Breed Manager for 30 yrs) said, ‘Once you put too much wool on a sheep you sacrifice those traits which set the dohne apart from the merino…..fertility, fecundity & doing ability’. Quality wool is paramount but not to the detriment of these profit driving traits. A kg of wool will only give approx $6 in a producer’s pocket. One commercial producer in the north said that his F3/4 Dohnes are cutting about 1/2 kg of wool less than his Merinos but is consistently marking 30% more lambs. The figures speak for themselves.
Around the Traps in NSW
On a recent client run in northern NSW the quality of the now F3, F4 & F5 hogget ewes is unsurpassed. In fact one flock I saw was equal to the best line of commercial hogget ewes I have ever seen. The hype throughout the industry over the last 12 months from some quarters has been ‘we need to cut more wool’. As Cameron McMaster (Former South African Dohne Breed Manager for 30 yrs) said, ‘Once you put too much wool on a sheep you sacrifice those traits which set the dohne apart from the merino…..fertility, fecundity & doing ability’. Quality wool is paramount but not to the detriment of these profit driving traits. A kg of wool will only give approx $6 in a producer’s pocket. One commercial producer in the north said that his F3/4 Dohnes are cutting about 1/2 kg of wool less than his Merinos but is consistently marking 30% more lambs. The figures speak for themselves.
Tasmania
Macquarie Dohnes have performed exceptionally well in the harsh conditions of Tasmania. Macquarie’s type….width, depth & well nourished wools have held them in good stead.
Tim Gunn’s Macquarie rams play an integral role
in Tim and Mandy’s composite sheep operation.
Australian Sheep & Wool Show, Bendigo
For the third year in a row & unsurpassed, Macquarie won the champion dohne fleece. The fleece was off a Majestic special stud ewe & cut 6.4kg (skirted), 21.4 micron and a 99.4% comfort factor. Since exhibiting Macquarie has won the champion fleece 5 times, reserve champion 3 times, champion dual purpose fleece once……all in 8 showings.
Australian Dohne Breeders Association (ADBA).
As vice president of the ADBA I feel it imperative to keep clients up to speed with association matters.
1- Past ADBA councils have been bogged down with stud breeder’s issues. The current ADBA council’s objective is to promote the commercial dohne
2- Council is looking to employ a Publicity Officer. The Publicity Officer will be responsible for liaising with processors, wool buyers and industry bodies to ensure maximum returns for commercial dohne producers.
Ram selling season is fast approaching.
Over 200 rams going to auction in 2014.
Macquarie finished the season selling 455 breeding rams into all sheep producing states. This would make us possibly the largest registered dohne ram seller in the country.
We will have approximately 600 rams for sale this season.
The top 30% of our rams will be going to auction at;
On Property Production Sale, Warren – 24th Sept – 130 rams
Riverina Sale, Hay NSW – 14th Oct – 50 rams
Vic ram sale, Ballarat Vic – 27th Oct – 12 rams
Tasmanian Ram Sale, Campbell Town – 30th Oct – 12 rams
Thank you to all clients and agents for your continued support and we look forward to catching up over the next few months.
Regards John Nadin