Genetics draws buyers from WA for Glen Holme Dohnes

Despite a challenging season, the 93 Dohne rams offered stud principals Allen and Joy Kelly showed they could thrive in tough conditions.

The top price ram was bought by long-term return buyer Adrian Behn, Indoota Pastoral Co, Riverton, who paid $3200 for lot 3.

The ram’s Australian Sheep Breeding Values included a clean fleece weight ASBV of 14.7 per cent, a post-weaning weight  of 5.9, a Dohne Index of 150.9 and a yearling worm egg count of 5.

Mr Behn said he specifically bought four Glen Holme Dohne rams to run with a selection of classed ewe hoggets.

“I was looking at wool quality,” he said.

“I selected for the high fleece weight, that’s the trait I am looking for to try and put some more wool on the animals.”

The sale drew Rhys Parsons, Kintail Park Dohnes, Jerramungup, WA, across the Nullabor, chasing genetics from sire Pinedale 100358.

Mr Parsons bought one ram – lot 2, with a Dohne Index of 186.9, sired by PD100358 – for $3000.

He was impressed with the animal’s statistics, and said the ram would become a stud ram at Kintail Park.

“PD100358 is an outstanding member of the Dohne breed and we wanted to access some new genetics because we hadn’t been down that way before and its statistics are exceptional,” he said.

Volume buyers included Argyle Transport, Millicent, which bought 16 rams averaging $1256, while Kernchen & Co, Saddleworth, took home 12 averaging $816.

KA,DK&NJ Hawthorne, Pinnaroo, bought five averaging $1640.

Welcoming many repeat customers and a number of new buyers to the sale, Mr Kelly said it was pleasing to see the Dohne breed and brand expanding.

“People understand Dohnes are key to saving the wool industry in Australia,” he said.

Glen Holme’s continued success resulted in their ewes fleece from the under two-year-old, prematurely shorn class being named Champion Dohne Fleece at this year’s Royal Adelaide Show.

The sale was conducted by Landmark and Australian Wool Network, with Leo Redden as auctioneer.