2016 Victorian Sale Results
Macquarie Dohne rams top at $8000
Mark Griggs 5th October 2016 The Land
ENGINEERING some of the best Dohne genetics available return buyers from Yass to Barcaldine, Queensland, purchased 146 of 153 rams offered which sold to $8000 and averaged $2058 at the Macquarie Dohnes 13th annual on-property sale at Warren last Thursday.
This average increased on last year by $351 while the 2014 average was $1808.
The sale had been postponed from September 21 due to rain and flooding and although 12 millimetres had fallen the night prior, most buyers were able to attend although six regulars were absent through flooding in their areas.
Highlight was the sale of the first 57 sons of new sire, MD 13-7021 Tom, from the Empire family which topped the sale and averaged $2263. This family line started from the purchase of a Mt Alma ram some years ago.
Twelve sons of Kintail Park13-2345 (Majestic family) topped at $4250 to average $2979.
Looking for wool, Stephen and Di Perry, “Wyndabyne”, Warren, chased a son of “Tom” to sale top money because of his wool characteristics and Dohne breed index.
“It’s all about wool for me,” Mr Perry said, whose property runs along the Marthaguy Creek.
“I only buy the very best wool rams I can find.
“Dual purpose is what this breed is all about, but I still like the wool.”
The Perrys bought the top-priced Macquarie ram at the Global Dohne Conference dinner sale at Dubbo.
With meat Australian sheep breeding values (ASBV) of 4.1 for post weaning weight (PWT) and eye muscle depth of 1.4, the sale-topper’s wool characteristics ASBVs included 8.2 for yearling clean fleece weight (YCFW) and a Dohne index value (Index) of 151.3.
The Perrys join 2000 Dohne ewes growing 19.5 micron average wool and cut 6.5 kilograms and have bought from Macquarie stud since its inception.
Their flock won the best commercial Dohne fleece section of the Australian Sheep and Wool National Fleece show this year.
The $8000 top-priced ram a son of new sire MD13-7021 (Tom) with Macquarie stud co-principal, Greg McCann; buyers Di Perry and Stephen Perry, (right) “Wyndabyne”, Warren, while co-principal, John Nadin holds the ram.
Peter and Joe Hyland, Hyland Dohnes, Geurie, were looking for an outcross sire and found him in the highest priced son of new Macquarie stud sire KP13-2345 purchased from Kintail Park stud.
A twin, the $4250 second top priced ram from the Macquarie Majestic family had meat figures of 5.1 for PWT, 1.3 for EMD and 0.2 for post fat while his wool index showed 5.2 for YCFW and a Dohne index of 145.7.
Mr Hyland said they were looking for different genetics and this ram had a very high fat index and post weaning weight and eye muscle.
John Witts, “Munargo”, Collarenebri, returned to buy seven rams paying to $3500 twice and a $3179 average. Both top rams and another two were by MD13-7021 Tom.
Buying since 2005 Mr Witts joins 2500 ewes of 20 micron cutting 5.5kg average and lambing 105 per cent.
Mark Evans, “Netherby”, Walgett, has been buying for 10 years and is joining 3500 ewes of 20 micron wool and cutting five to 5.5kg.
He said he was “quite excited about the new sire, Tom, and bought four sons in his draft of five to $3500 and a $2950 average.
Multi-lot buyers Denis and Justin O’Brien, Cryon Station, Cryon, near Walgett, began buying in 2005 and now joining 4000 ewes of 19 to 20 micron wool began two shearings this year.
Their draft of 20 rams topped at $4000, averaged $2613 and top-lot was by KP13-2345 with an index of 181.1pc.
Jim, Sue and Mark Currey, “Aberfoyle”, Walgett, have bought rams for some 10 years and returned to secure 11 rams while paying to $3500 and a $2550 average.
They joined 4000 ewes this year growing 20 micron wool and while they focus on wool, Mr Currey said he liked the dual purpose “all-rounder” Macquarie rams.
Mark Winning, Mona Station, Bollon, Qld, paid a top of $2500 three times for his draft of seven rams averaging $2107 for his flock of 4500 ewes growing 20 micron wool.
Cameron and Elizabeth Crisp, Yass River Station, have been buying for four years and took home three rams to $2500 and a $2083 average.
They breed Dohne/Merino cross ewes which are joined to White Suffolk rams for a terminal crossbred lamb.
Another buyer since Macquarie’s first sale was Chris Carrigan, Welbon Grazing Company, “Welbon”, Garah, who joins 2000 ewes of 20 micron wool returned to buy six rams to $2500 and average $1875..
Michael and Tom O’Brien, “The Brigalows”, Warren, and “Evandale”, Come By Chance, was also a multi-lot buyer returning to secure 30 rams toping at $3250 for a KP13-2345 son and averaging $1838.
Bill and Andrew Yates, “Amondale”, Garah, returned to buy 14 rams toping at $2500 for a son of MD13-7021 and averaging $1500.
Joe and Anita Taylor, “Coolgah”, Barcladine, Qld, purchase one ram at auction and 17 top grade rams immediately after the sale.
They first purchased Macquarie genetics in 2006 and won the overall champion team of lambs at 2008 Barcoo Pastoral Society Prime Lamb Competition (all breeds), Blackall, Qld.
Wild dogs forced the Taylor’s out of sheep but with the erection of a dog proof fence has seen them move back into sheep production.
The sale was conducted by Clemson Hiscox, Walgett, with Paul Dooley, Tamworth, guest auctioneer.
Joe and Peter Hyland, Hyland Dohne stud, Geurie, with their $4250 second top-priced ram by KP13-2345 and Macquarie stud co-principal, John Nadin, Warren.
Victorian Dohne Invitation Ram Sale
Laura Griffin 2nd November 2016 Stock & Land
43 of 45 rams sold to $3300, av $1650
ALMOST three times as many rams sold at this year’s annual Victorian Dohne Invitation Ram Sale compared to last year.
And despite the increased sales, the average remained comparable at $1650 and the top price was the same at $3300.
At the fall of the hammer last Thursday, 44 of 45 rams sold at the 12th annual sale at Ballarat.
Most of the 16 registered buyers were commercial producers who came from throughout Victoria, with two from Tasmania and one from southern NSW.
Sale group spokesman John Nadin said it was terrific to welcome a few new buyers to the Dohne breed.
Classer Bill Mildren, Wodonga, John Nadin, Macquarie Dohne stud, and John Elliot, who bought Lot 45 for $3300.
Buyers included John and Jenny Elliott and Bruce Stewart, who bought two rams including the top-priced lot 41 from Mr Nadin’s Macquarie Dohne stud, Warren, NSW.
Mr Elliott said they had a commercial Dohne flock of 1700 ewes with half joined to Dohne rams and half to White Suffolks. They do a February joining for a mid-July lambing.
The sale-topping July 2015-drop twin ram had Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) of 4.2kg post weaning weight (PWT), 0.3mm post weaning eye muscle depth (PEMD), 0.0 post weaning fat (PFAT), 4.6 per cent yearling clean fleece weight (YCFW) and an Dohne index of 154.4.
It was by a ram from Macquarie’s long-established Olympic sheep family.
The Elliotts and Mr Stewart share farm at Sidonia and were helped by sheep classer Bill Mildren.
“Bill Mildren classes the ewe weaners yearly and selected a number of rams in the sale to enhance our breeding objectives,” Mr Elliott said.
He said those objectives included being a dual purpose sheep; body confirmation; good wool; Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs); and trueness to type.
Vendor Mr Nadin agreed that the top-priced ram had make and shape and was a “terrific meat sheep” with good doing ability and fine/medium wool to handle Central Victoria’s rainfall.
Mr Nadin also sold the second top-priced ram, lot 23.
It was the first Macquarie ram Judy and Craig Ross, Rockbank, Vasey, had bought. They purchased three more rams for an overall average of $2900.
The Ross family has been buying Dohne rams for six years to use in their self-replacing Dohne flock.
They will join 1300 next year, including some back to Dohnes and some to White Suffolks.
Mrs Ross said she liked the ram’s figures for post weaning weight (5.1kg), post weaning eye muscle depth (0.6mm) and post weaning fat (0.1mm); and its positive yearling clean fleece weight of 5.3pc was a bonus.
“He was also a twin ram, so hopefully he’ll help boost fertility in the flock,” Mrs Ross said.
Macquarie cleared all of its 19 rams for an average of $2142.
Don and Karen Mills, Kardinia Dohne stud, Corowa, NSW, sold eight of nine rams to $2500, av $1800.
Alistair and Cheryl Greenshields, Glenaroua Dohne stud, Glenaroua, sold 11 of 12 to $1700, av $1155.
Murray Rogerson, Stirling Dohne stud, Glenthompson, cleared all of five rams, selling to $2700, av $2010.
Mr Nadin said overall the sale was excellent and showed the growing strength of the Dohne breed in Victoria, which was also evident in strong on-property sales in recent months.
He said that was driven particularly thanks to its meat and fertility traits, which makes it suited to self-replacing flocks.