Dohnes top at $1900

The top price of $1900 was paid by the Fowlers of Bendeveron at Bothwell for a Macquarie ram, with a birthweight of 6.3kg and eye muscle depth of 1.2.

The ram, dropped in June last year, had an ASBV of 145.2.

Bendeveron also bought the stud sire for $1200.

Russell Fowler said the top priced ram was "high on the indexes."

He said the property was looking to put Dohnes over Merinos, to give more frame and wool.

"They can produce a good first cross lamb," Mr Fowler said.

The property owned 11 Dohne rams, adding three at the sale.

"They are good, I have got first cross ones that are joined as two tooths this year, so it will be interesting to see how they go this year," Mr Fowler said.

"With margins for lambs so good at the moment, and wool being down, the Dohnes are doing very well, when you are trying to go from the fine end to something that can produce a first cross lamb, then the best way to get there is a Dohne."

There were four vendors altogether, including Macquarie stud principal John Nadin, Warren, NSW.

He said while the sale started slowly, it ended up quite successfully.

A total of 25 of 30 sold to $1900, av $1225

"I think a lot of sales have been on the mainland and a lot of people have bought them on the mainland, I think, in the past, there has been a view the tail end were coming down here, but that's far from the case," Mr Nadin said.

"I had 75 rams come into Tasmania last year, so I had some big orders, so a lot of my clients were operating, hopefully.

"I think the Dohne is making headway here, especially the way the wool market is and the lamb market, I think the Dohne does have a future in Tasmania."

Auctioneer Tim Woodham, of Roberts said the sale wasn't as buoyant as he had expected, given the strong crowd.

"There were a few sheep they liked, everyone seemed to be wanting to

buy a particular sheep, they will hang off and hope they will get it," Mr Woodham said.