Dohnes hold their own

However, this hectic schedule hasn't stopped him altering the make-up of his sheep flock to include new genetics to maximise returns.

A 3000-head mixed flock now runs on the Kuhls' share of the 730-hectare property.

Until five years ago the Kuhls bought older classed Merino ewes from Kerrsville to be joined with Coopworth or Border Leicester rams.

"Back three to four years ago when sheep got very dear we decided to become more self-sufficient," Mr Kuhl said.

So with the influence of local Australian Wool Network livestock agent Michael Crooks, he took the plunge and bought some Dohne rams.

"Now we can completely replace own flock without the need to buy in Merino ewes," Mr Kuhl said.

"They're a different type of sheep.

"As far as frame goes they have a bit more length and strength so to put a Dorset ram over them means we can produce a more robust, meatier lamb."

But aside from maximising returns from the currently lucrative lamb and mutton markets, the change to Dohne genetics was also about breeding sheep that could also hold their own on the wool table.

"With crossbred wool you can only make $3.50 (a kilogram) whereas your Dohne weaners - or what you would class as a Comeback - can go $6.50-$7," Mr Kuhl said.

"The micron has dropped down from about 28M to 21-21.5M in the lambs so that's a significant increase in wool value to start with.

"When you work it out over a 200kg bale it adds up."

Across the approximate 110 bales filled each year, the Kuhls' wool cheque has increased more than two-fold.

"Whether you have 20M crossbred wool or 15M ultrafine Merino wool, you still have to pay the same amount to get the wool off them, so you're better to be in front with your wool cheque than behind," Mr Kuhl said.

As the flock developed and a higher percentage of Dohne blood came through the breeding flock, he would consider joining a Border Leicester over the top to keep the wool clip where he wanted it, he said.

Shearing is scheduled in December for an autumn lambing, which is the optimum time to fit in with the sucker markets and the mixed farm's calendar.

"It's predominantly a prime lamb operation we have here so we didn't want to rob Peter to pay Paul and gain on the wool and lose on the prime lamb percentage," Mr Kuhl said.

The Dohne-Merino-Border Leicester ewes' maternal qualities are also on target, and Mr Kuhl's eye for dairy has identified their milk-producing ability as an important asset.

"They tend to lamb easily and they look to milk well, which is important," he said.

"The more milk the lamb can get, the better start it will get, which is crucial when you're growing lambs out as big and as quickly as possible to sell as suckers."

Lambs are sold both through the nearby prime markets and directly over the hooks through contracts with local processors.

Lambing percentages haven't changed noticeably since the Kuhls began joining the first- and second-cross ewes to Dohnes, staying at 125-130 per cent.

Older ewes are joined with Poll Dorsets to produce sucker lambs, and any that are empty are culled that year.

PASTURE in an integral part of keeping all three dairy, beef and sheep commodities performing well.

Soil at the property near Mount Gambier, South Australia, has a sandy loam profile, and the Kuhl family run between two and three dry sheep per acre.

"The worst of the paddocks are renovated each year," David Kuhl said.

"There's no excuse not to have good feed and pastures in this high-rainfall area.

"In a normal spring down here, if you drill a summer crop in early to mid October, very rarely do you get a failure.

"Any paddock due to be renovated is sprayed in early October and drilled with rape seed and millet, and that will fatten lambs in summer."

The property also has access to irrigation, and crops of lucerne and dryland rape and millet are grown for feed each year.

"We're very conscious of pH and fertilise to maintain good-quality pasture," Mr Kuhl said.

"You have to have pasture that's palatable to the sheep."

All Dohne wether lambs are shorn and fattened on summer crops before being sold.

"They're usually going at 60 kilograms," he said.

"They're definitely a dual-purpose sheep when you can get them out the gate for $150."

When selecting rams, good feet that could withstand moisture for many months of the year were a must, Mr Kuhl said