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Stud Newsletters Volume 8:
The Dohne holds the key to Australia’s shrinking ewe flock

The continual shrinking of the Australian ewe flock and the move over a number of years to terminal sires puts the Dohne ewe in the box seat to save an ailing Australian flock.

Over the last two decades the Australian sheep industry has undergone, and continues to undergo, significant restructuring. At the core of this restructure is a re-weighting of the value derived from the sheep and lamb meat industries relative to the value derived from wool. In addition, there has been a sustained decline in the size of the sheep population over the last 20 years.

The mix of sheep has changed with ewes dominating in a way not seen before.

These changes in flock size and relative value from sheep meat and wool are dramatic.

ABS reports the national sheep flock at 76.9 million head for mid 2008, the lowest it has been since 1916.

Since1990, when there were 170 million head, the flock has declined by 4.2% per year or around 4 million head per year for a total decline of 55%.

As emphasis is transferred from wool production to prime lamb production, more Merino ewes are joined to non-Merino rams and fewer Merino ewe lambs become available as replacements.

The most alarming point is the accelerating fall in the size of the sheep flock. The total number of lambs marked in 2007/08 (33.6 million) is 3.9 million less than the total sheep and lambs slaughtered and live sheep exported (This does not include deaths on farm).

Acknowledgment:
Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia

Stud History

Macquarie Dohne Stud was registered in 1999 with a 50% share of the first Dohne embryos imported into Eastern Australia. Since then, large scale embryo transfer programmes have enabled Macquarie to become one of the largest and most genetically diverse Dohne studs in Australia with 1500 registered pure-bred stud breeding ewes in 6 families. Macquarie sold 400 rams and over 500 stud ewes in 2008 to NSW, QLD, VIC, SA, WA and Tasmania.

Macquarie genetics have influenced major Dohne studs in NSW, QLD, Victoria and Western Australia through semen, ram and embryo’s. Macquarie has 400 rams for sale in 2009 giving clients a large and diverse selection.
Macquarie’s results speak for themselves.

• Top priced ram at the National Dohne Sale 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 & 2008.
  
  
• Australian record at auction twice $16,000- 2003 and 20,000- 2004
  
  
• Highest  average price National Sale 2002 & 2006
  
  
• Highest average on-property sale Eastern Australia 2004, 2006 & 2007
  
  
• Top price and highest average at Australian Sheep and Wool Show 2004 & 2005
  
  
• Top price Hamilton Sheepvention 2004 & 2006. Highest average 2007 & 2008.
  
  
• Top price and highest average South Eastern Breeders Sale 2008.
  
  
• Top price and average at the Eastern Riverina Sale 2005.
  
  
• Top price and average Victorian ram sale 2005 & 2008.
  
  
• Top price of $10 000 Riverina sale 2003
  
  
• Victorian record price of $15 000 Australian Sheep & Wool Show 2006
  
  
• Macquarie exhibited the overall champion pen of Dohne x lambs (F3's) at the 2006 Southern Meats Hook Competition with an average dressed weight of 28.7kg and an average yield of 50.2%.
  
  
• Macquarie also excelled in the Fleece Competition at the 2008 National Expo & Sale taking out 3 Champions.
  
  
• Champion Pure Dohne ewe – 6.58kg (skirted), 19.8 micron
• Champion Pure Dohne Ram lamb – 5.63kg (skirted), 18 micron
• Champion Pure Dohne Ewe lamb – 5.14kg, (skirted) 18.3 micron
• Macquarie was the most successful Dohne exhibitor at the 2009 Australian Fleece Competition

Note:
Stud Sires in the past have been sold at the National Sale, however, this year we are offering them at our on-property sale lots 1-4.

• Champion Dohne Exhibit
  
  
• Reserve Champion Dohne Exhibit
  
  
• Most Valuable Commercial Fleece (duel-purpose class)

In the following years the projected shortfall is even greater.

Lamb on top
Long term gross margins ($/dse) recently published by the Mackinnon Project have lamb the leader at 5, 10 and 35 years:

Years	5	10	35
Lamb	$26	$20	$19
Wool	$23	$15	$13
Beef	$15	$16	$16

John Nadin with Macquarie’s Champion Dohne Fleece and most valuable dual-purpose commercial fleece at the 2009 Australian Fleece Competition during the  Australian Sheep & Wool Show.

Sale Results
Macquarie thanks all buyers and underbidders for their continued support and confidence at sales during the last twelve months.

Macquarie thanks all buyers and underbidders for their continued support and confidence at sales during the last twelve months.

5th Annual Production Sale
After recording the highest average on-property Dohne sale in Australia in 2007(111 rams averaged $1600) our objective at our 2008 on- property sale was to increase the numbers, maintain the quality and ensure all clients have access to the top end of our rams. We achieved our objective with the largest line up of Dohne rams in Australia(145). Rams sold to $2600 (twice) and averaged $1402.
Equal top price rams at $2600 were purchased by Chris Carrigan, “Welbon”, Garah and Mark and Sue Evans, “Martindale” Walgett.
Volume buyers included Dennis & Trish O’Brien, “Cryon Station”, Walgett, Dave & Julie Hawker, Westlea Pastoral Company, Cunnamulla and Michael O’Brien, Brigalows Pastoral Company, Carinda.

3rd Annual South Eastern Breeders Sale Naracoorte, SA
 Macquarie recorded the top price of $1,900 and highest average of $1,537.50.
The top price was paid by Peter and Tim Hall Jamestown, South Australia. Other buyers included Paul Shultz Ardrossan, Rob Lange Naracoorte, John Miell Tintinara and Craig and Ken Wendelborn Keith.

4th Annual Victorian Sale
The sale was an outstanding success for Macquarie, topping the sale at $3600 and recording the highest average of $2,566. Four Studs purchased rams, the top price ram by Neville Triplett Barnadown Dohnes Epsom, Angus McColl Geelong $3,200, Alistair Greenshields ‘Glenaroua Stud Kilmore, $2,000 and Mike Hurley Hazlehurst Dohnes, Neuarpurr, $2,600.

Autumn on-property Ewe and Ram Sale
The largest offering of stud Dohne ewes in Australia to date saw a complete clearance of 443 stud Dohne ewes topping at $300 and averaging $155.Flock rams sold to $1300 three times, averaging $933. Sheep sold to every state in Australia. Bruce Barnes-Webb, Dowell Dohne stud, Katanning, Western Australia purchased two pens of ewes including the top price averaging $233.Phil Oldham, Dwalganup Pastoral Company, Hamilton Victoria purchased the $1300 equal top priced ram along with 154 mixed aged stud ewes, to average $154.Purchasers of the other two $1300 top priced rams were Brian Taylor, Epsom, Vic and TP Jones and Co “Esk Vale”, Tasmania, who averaged $1043 for their seven rams. Shayne White, Lucky Downs Dohne stud, Bathurst averaged $140 for 68 stud ewes. Other ewe buyers included Wellington Park Estate, Seacombe, Vic who averaged $131 for their draft of seventy ewes, while Alistair Greenshields, Glenaroua Dohne Stud, Kilmore Vic took home 59 ewes, averaging $139. Graham and Helen Crawford Goldvale Dohne Stud, SA purchased 2 pens of ewes to top of $170.
Volume ram buyers were Robert Everett, Rokewood Junction, Vic, who purchased ten rams to average
$960, while the Stirton family, Queensland averaged $800 for their draft of ten rams.

Commercial Client Results
Congratulations to the many clients of Macquarie who have enjoyed continued success during the last twelve months. A few results are listed below.

Alex Druce ‘Paringa’, Warren

• Topped the state in July with CFA ewes 3 months skin $94.60, Dubbo fat sale.
• 1400 lambs, including 350 classed out ewe lambs, sold to $137 and averaged $118.
• 250 m/a F1 ewes scanned in lamb to White Suffolk’s $110
• 08 lambing topped at 155% and averaged 132%
• 09 lambing averaged 123%

Rob Everett Rokewood Junction, VIC

• Joined 658 maiden ewes with 5 rams. Scanned 87% wet.

John Witts ‘Munargo’, Collarenebri

• 375 08 drop classed out ewes nsm $102

Chris Carrigan ‘Welbon’, Garah

• Store wether weaners $60
• 400 08 drop classed out ewes nsm $100

Mark & Sue Evans ‘Martindale’, Walgett

• 460 08 drop classed out ewes nsm $105

Jim Brennan ‘Dunmore’, Warren

• 600 wether lambs to $132.17 and averaged $118

Stud Client Results

Craig & Janet Robertson Havelock Park Dohne Stud, Stratford VIC Craig and Janet had an outstanding result at the Gippsland Annual Merino Ram Sale averaging $1090 for 8 rams and a 100% clearance. The Merinos averaged $866 and recorded a 78% clearance. The strength of the sale gives both the Dohne breed and the Robertson’s the creditability they deserve.

Don & Karen Mill’s Kardinia Dohne Stud, Corowa
Congratulations to Don & Karen Mills on coming second in the Rutherglen Show Society lamb carcass competition. This is a significant result for the Dohne. They were in the lightweight class competing against 12 other teams of Dorper, Poll Dorset and White Suffolk’s. The Mills’ team defeated all Poll Dorset and White Suffolk entrants and came second to a Dorper/Border Leicester/Merino cross. The wool value wasn’t taken into account otherwise the Mills’ team would well and truly have rung the bell.

Uardry Dohne Stud, Hay
Congratulations to Ben Lane and the staff at Uardry for an outstanding result at last week’s on-property ram sale. The $314 increase in the average and an additional 29 rams average $1830.

Congratulations to client Michael O’Brien ‘Evandale’ Walgett on winning the 2009 NSW farmer of the year. Michael’s management practises and enthusiasm are inspirational.