VERSATILTY and the predictability of Mt Alma Dohne genetics were keenly sought after at their annual on-property sale at Coonalpyn on Wednesday last week, resulting in a total clearance and an increase of $451 on their average price from 2019.
Overall the stud offered 80 rams, with all selling at an average of $2189.
Elders auctioneer Steve Doecke opened the sale commending the Ashby family on the very even and high quality group of rams presented for sale.
The sale's top price of $5000 came at lot 13, sold to long-time return client Mitch Harrison, Longwell Station, Broken Hill, NSW.
The ram was a twin weighing 108 kilograms, with wool figures of 18 micron, 2.4 standard deviation, 13.3 co-efficient of variation and 99.6 per cent comfort factor. It also had ASBV figures of 4.6 yearling weight, 4.1 post-weaning weight, 0.6 yearling eye muscle depth and 0.2 yearling fat.
Mr Harrison is enjoying a good season after three very dry years. Stock numbers are low due to the dry years and they were looking to rebuild their Dohne and Dorper flocks. He selects for plain body and bare breech.
"Dohnes do really well in our country with high fertility, good lambing percentages and good meat values," he said.
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The sale's second-highest price ram at lot 4 made $4600 to repeat client NR&CR Kernick, Field.
The Kernicks run a self-replacing Dohne flock, as well as Dohne ewes mated to White Suffolk rams, to produce 22kg carcase weight prime lambs.
"We love the Mt Alma Dohnes for their consistent breeding and they are a fantastic dual purpose sheep with very good structure," Celia Kernick said.
"I was selecting for carcase traits with high EMD and good confirmation."
Testament to Mt Alma Dohnes are two highly-regarded Lucindale businesses Egremont Pastoral and S&R Digiorgio competing strongly throughout the catalogue to secure 15 rams between them.
Egremont Pastoral bought eight rams to $3600, averaging $2436, while the Digiorgios bought seven to $3000 twice, averaging $2343.
Elders wool district manager Steph Brooker Jones was buying for Egremont Pastoral and was selecting for "long white wools, high EMDs with good butt shape and carcase".
"Egremont have been buying from Mt Alma for over 10 years for their dual purpose, high fertility and carcase traits," she said.
Major volume buyer was Elders Broken Hill agent Ben Finch - buying for LF&SM Mashford, Katalpa Station, located between White Cliffs and Packsaddle in NSW - secured 20 rams to $3000, averaging $1795.
"Katalpa Station have been buying Mt Alma Dohnes for many years and they do very well in the Broken Hill environment," Mr Finch said.
"I was selecting for correct structure, wool quality with a heavy wool cut and high fertility with twinning. Katalpa achieve very high lambing percentages up to 130pc."
Securing five rams each were DW Taylor averaging $1320 and Bennett Earthworks averaging $1240.
Stud principal Ike Ashby said it was a good sale with a lot of return buyers.
"The rams presented very well straight out of the paddock being born in April/May 2019 and weighing an average of 108kg," he said.
Every year Mt Alma donate proceeds of lot 1 to a charity, which this year sold for $1400 to SK&BJ Murdoch, Minlaton.
This year the donation was split between Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and The Royal Flying Doctor Service.
The sale was conducted by Elders and Nutrien, with Elders Keith the duty agent.
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