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Sale Information

CLUNES SHOW

  • Saturday, 16 November 2024
  • Clunes Showground, Clunes VIC
  • Private Sale
  • 8 Specially Selected Dohne Rams
  • Pre Sale Preview Day

    • Friday, September 2025
    • Macquarie Ram Depot, “Carinya” Ballimore NSW
    • From 9:30am to 4pm
    • 22ND ANNUAL PRODUCTION SALE

      • Wednesday, September 2025
      • Macquarie Ram Depot, “Carinya” Ballimore NSW
      • Inspection from 9:30am
      • Sale 1pm
      • 150 Specially Selected Dohne Rams
Contact Us

John Nadin
Mobile: 0427 474 610
Email: john@macquariedohnes.com.au

Greg McCann
Mobile: 0499 865 120
Email: gmccann@hwy.com.au

Stud Representatives:
Will Nadin
Mobile: 0430 315 558

James Nadin
Mobile: 0439 709 306

Peter Nadin
Mobile: 0439 717 677

Stud Classer:
James Koster
Mobile: 0427 546 873

Macquarie Dohnes Office
Tanya Barton
Mobile: 0429 208 674
Email: macquarie@dohnes.com.au

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DOHNE LOGO 2015 small

Central West Genetics

National focus on breeding ewe flock

29 July 2016, Vanessa Binks, The Land

 

Geoff Duddy the land

At the 2016 Global Dohne Conference, Dubbo, Geoff Duddy, Sheep Solutions, Leeton, discussed the Dohne breed role in the sheep industry’s future.
The Australian sheep industry will continue to focus on improving the national breeding ewe base, after the gradual decline for more than 20 years has prompted producers to look to breeds carrying desirable maternal traits.

At the 2016 Global Dohne Conference, Dubbo, Geoff Duddy, Sheep Solutions, Leeton, said as one of Australia’s most profitable agriculture industries, maintaining the breeding ewe base is critical for Australia to meet both domestic and export supplies.

The current national breeding ewe flock is estimated at 40 million consisting of a 60 per cent Merino ewe base, with the remainder consisting of Merino type wool sheep and other breeds such as the Donhe.

Sarah Strachan the land

Meat and Livestock Australia, Sarah Strachan, also spoke of the Dohne’s positive future within specific markets at the 50th Global Dohne Conference.

 

Mr Duddy said due to an influx of breeds such as the Dohne, the past five years has had the ewe base reach improve lambing markings and weaning percentages.

“The percentage share of Merino ewes in the National breeding ewe base is on the decline but breeds such as the Donhe and SAMM have increased in percentage of the total ewe base,” Mr Duddy said.

“With a declining breeding ewe base, and a greater focus on dual-purpose and composite breeds, this has seen an accelerated use of Dohne genetics nationally.”

Mr Duddy reiterated the main theme throughout the Dohne conferenmce, which was the Dohne breed offers improved fecundity, fertility, mothering ability and growth rate to weaning.

“We are seeing improvements in weaning rates, driven principally through increased twin lamb survival – these are a critical profit driver and a means for reducing costs/kg of product produced,” Mr Duddy said.

Saying that with close to 60 per cent of lambs heading for export, the industry at large needs breeds who can maintain the nations current lamb marking and weaning percentages.

ewes the land

The current National breeding ewe flock is at 41.7 million, with a hope to increase the base by utilising maternal breeds such as the Dohne.
“We need to improve lamb survival to weaning and the Dohne hits this crucial need,” Mr Duddy said.

“The Dohne is dual purpose and can supply prime lambs for any meat trade or be used as a maternal ewe when joining to terminal sires.”

Having large percentages in the National ewe flock is also of benefit for Dohne producers, offering objectively measured traits such as growth rate, muscle and clean fleece weight.