KOONIK DOHNE AND MITRE ROCK POLL MERINOS
DOHNES
82 of 85 rams sold to $3600, av $1834.
POLL MERINOS
5 of 10 rams sold to $1700 (twice), av $1220.
SHOW success has translated to stronger sales, for Koonik Dohne Stud and Mitre Rock Poll Merinos, Nurcoung, which saw the average price increase of more than $600 on last year.
Co-principal Fiona Cameron said the Dohne stud had taken out the Champion Junior Ram, Grand Champion ewe and Champion senior pair of rams at this year’s Bendigo Australian Sheep and Wool Show.
“We had ten new clients and 20 repeat buyers with a number of volume buyers,” Ms Cameron said.
“We had a boomer of a year, literally, after we went to the sheep and wool show.”
Sheep and Wool Show success was followed up by the national Dohne sale, Dubbo, at which the stud sold four rams into Western Australia and South Australia.
Mr Cameron said exposure at field days and shows had put the stud on the map.
“I think buyers are looking for the dual purpose sheep, but also for good quality, well nourished, white wool,” Ms Cameron said.
“It allowed us to be seen, not only by other studs, but commercial clients as well,” Ms Cameron said.
The sale was up by $645 on last year’s result.
Simon and Anna Greene, Karingal Pty Ltd, Elmhurst, bought the top priced Dohne for $3600.
The ram, a May 2015 drop, had Australian Sheep Breeding Values of a weaning weight (WWT) of four kilograms, a post weaning weight (PWT) of 4.5kg, a yearling fat (YTFAT) of -0.6mm and a yearling eye muscle depth (YEMD) of 0.6 millimetres.
It had measured performance traits of a yearling clean fleece weight (YCFW) of 16.3 per cent and a yearling fibre diameter (YFD) of -0.7microns.
Volume buyers included the Winnings family, St George, Queensland, who took seven Dohne rams, to $2750, for an average of $2107.
Sovereign Hill Museum Association, Elaine, also took seven, to $3000, av $2385.71 while six went to Peter Gooch, Kyneton, and five to Sunnyside, Clear Lake.
Another three went to Brian Calderwood’s Coolibar Dohne Stud, Tumby Bay SA for a top of $3250, av $3000.
N and B Wende, Frances, South Australia, and BR and CM Blackwood, Nhill, each paid top price of $1700 for Mitre Rock Merino rams.
Elders Horsham, Andrew Adamson, agreed success in the show ring had translated into promotion for the stud.
“She had some very good wool sheep, for Dohnes, for cut and quality,” Mr Adamson said.
“People were looking for those heavier cutting rams, they were in demand.”
Buyers were also looking for twinning traits.
The sale was conducted by Landmark and Elders.
