MANY different breeds go through the Tolmer Rocks feedlot at Tintinara each year but owner David Head rates Dohne-cross lambs among the best of them.
Dohne-sired lambs make up about a quarter of the 10,000 to 15,000 store lambs from across the State finished in the South East feedlot each year but their doing ability and growth rates are close to good crossbred lambs.
"We are the biggest fans of Suffolk crosses but Dohnes are right behind them," David said.
"The best Dohne carcases are just about the shape of a crossbred lamb and we can get better prices for them than Merinos."
Plummetting skin prices have seen producers take a hit this year but David says Dohne and Merino lambs have continued to fetch much higher values than crossbreds.
"The other day we sold some crossbreds (skins) for $7 and Dohnes made $13.60," he said.
Last year, David bought 770 Dohne-Merino ewes from Ian Fulton, Tumby Bay who was dispersing his flock. Ian had regularly supplied Dohne-cross lambs to the Tolmer Rocks feedlot and David knew the quality of the genetics.
The two-year-old to 5yo ewes which were mated to Suffolks lambed down in April-May. One mob achieved 124 per cent and another which included maidens 104pc.
David has been particularly impressed with the weight in lambs being run on long-term agistment at Cookes Plains.
"We should be able to get them off as suckers. If we can get $80 for them we won't even worry about the feedlot but if prices drop to $70 we might consider growing them out," he said.
This year, David plans to mate the ewes to Dohnes to breed some replacement ewes.
He also runs 700 Merino ewes and 400 Merino-Border Leicester ewes but expects Dohnes to replace the latter for its added wool value. He said their fleeces were worth about $35 to $40 compared to first-cross ewes which just cover shearing expenses.
"You need 125 per cent lambs out of your first-crosses to make up the loss of wool cut but Dohnes are doing about 120 per cent anyway," he said.
* Full report in Stock Journal, August 9 issue.
