CONFIDENCE in the Dohne breed was evident at the Koonik ram sale at Goroke, in the west Wimmera last week, where stud principals Fiona and Darren Cameron had a 100 per cent clearance of the 72 rams offered.
"We had a lot more rams in than last year, so it was just fantastic to sell every one," Mrs Cameron said, and average $1339.
There were buyers from three States in attendance, along with a strong array of local buyers, resulting in spirited bidding at the helmsman-style auction, conducted by Elders Horsham.
Despite tough seasonal conditions, combined with a shocking windy sale day, buyers paid to a top of $3600.
This was for Lot 4 - a heavy cutting ram by UD080786, with an ASBV for clean fleece weight of +13.9, YWT of +4.5 and a Dohne Index of 134.0.
The ram went to NSW, bought by P&N Edwards, Pindari, Yerong Creek.
Second-highest price of the day was $3200 for Lot 1 - another high producing ram with a clean fleece weight ASBV of +15.2, YWT +4.7 and Dohne Index of 136.9.
By the same sire as Lot 4, he was purchased by LD, IA, ME&CW Stevenson, Fairview, Tungamah.
The volume buyer for the sale was Tom McCann of Inverleigh, who took home 10 rams to $1400. A further 10 rams were sold post auction, with Mr McCann taking five of them.
The Greene family of Karingal Enterprise, Elmhurst, secured seven rams to $2000, av $1371.
One of the major features of the sale was a number of new buyers.
"I am a little overwhelmed at the result, it is fantastic to see our repeat buyers coming back and to see so many new buyers here," Mrs Cameron said.
She said she felt the interest was growing in genuine dual purpose sheep.
"These are good heavy cutting sheep and also have great meat values as you can see by the ASBV summary."
The Koonik stud is made up from bloodlines from the Macquarie Dohne stud at Warren, NSW; the former Uardry stud, also in NSW; the Beggs family's Nareeb Nareeb stud in the Western District; and Potari Dohnes in SA.