SHEEP producers backcrossing away from the Dohne breed to Poll Merinos with the perception of improving wool quality have been urged to consider their gross margins.
Australian Dohne Breeders Association vice president John Nadin said the backcrossing trend emerging from last year's spring ram sales was a matter of growers and agents misunderstanding the breed's role in the Australian sheep industry.
Mr Nadin said the profit drivers of fertility, lamb growth rates, increased surplus sheep sales and carrying capacity were being overlooked in the pursuit of increased fleece weight.
"We have got a few in the industry trying to turn the Dohne into a Merino and that's not its role," he said.
"The Dohne is a strain of Merino, just like the Peppin, Saxon and Spanish – they all have a place.
"We are continually striving to increase the wool cut without sacrificing the doing ability, growth rates, carcase attributes and fertility."
Mr Nadin said the increased weaning percentage and less dry ewes put the Dohne on-par with Merinos in terms of wool cut, and streets ahead on carcase value, growth rates and doing ability.
"What is hard to measure is the Dohne's doing ability, ease of management, ability to finish quickly, perform and grow into a productive animal after a hard start," he said.
Australian Wool Network senior wool and sheep specialist Michael Crooks confirmed instances of backcrossing among commercial producers in south-eastern SA.
Mr Crooks, of Portland, Vic, said Dohne ram selection had improved in recent years resulting in increased wool quality, coupled with higher conception and lambing rates.
He said the biggest gains had been for crossbred prime lamb flocks using Dohne rams, with wool clip value jumping from $600 to $1000 a bale on average.
"A lot of the Dohnes are now down to 19-micron and are putting more meat onto the frame of sheep," Mr Crooks said.
South African sheep and wool consultant Cameron McMaster said inferior wool quality and style in the Dohne breed was a myth.
Mr McMaster said the foundation flock had been based on careful selection for fertility, meat and Merino wool traits.
He has branded the backcrossing trend as a "retrogressive step", saying South African woolgrowers had trod the same path with negative consequences.
* Full report in Stock Journal, July 24, 2014 issue.
