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.
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Australian Dohne Breeders Association vice president John Nadin, Macquarie Dohnes, Warren, 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.’’
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 carcass 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 his territory of south-eastern South Australia.
Mr Crooks, Portland, Victoria, 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.
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.
Mr McMaster said the producers rapidly lost much of the gain they had made in terms of reproduction and growth rate.
The value of the carcase attributes of Dohnes was proven again last year, when a Charollais/Dohne lamb bred by Matthew Dodds, “Catombal”, Yeoval, took out the top award on both the hoof and hook at the inaugural Wellington Springfest prime lamb competition.
The five-month-old lamb weighed 55 kilograms live and had a carcase weight of 28.6kg, dressing at 54.2 per cent.
Returning 19.95kg of saleable meat, the lamb sold for $250 to the Cow and Calf Hotel, Wellington.
