This year’s national Dohne Merino sale was for the first time held in Graaff Reinet. A total of 10 breeders offered 28 stud rams on the 2023 national sale. The average price for the 25 rams sold was R29 480. Congratulations to Mr. Henri du Plessis and his son Stephan who sold the top priced ram at R115 000. It was a first for the du Plessis family and it is trusted that they will build on this excellent debut. Congratulations also to Weska Dohnes, Suidplaas Dohnes and University of Stellenbosch, who bought this top sire from Mr Henri du Plessis (Waaifontein Dohnes). The single born ram (JD210486) had breeding values of : weaning weight direct +2.21 kg; weaning weight maternal +1.10 kg; total number of lambs weaned +0.457 percent; clean fleece weight +0.306 kg; fibre diameter -1.549 micron and general merit +24.730.
The sales result in breeder order is:
BREEDER NUMBER RAMS AVERAGE PRICE
1) Waaifontein Dohnes, Humansdorp 3 R50 333
2) CG Business Trust, Barkly East 3 R43 000
3) University of Stellenbosch 2 R39 500
4) White Wools Dohnes, Molteno 4 R26 000
5) CCM Farms, Swartberg, KZN 4 R22 500
6) Weska Dohnes, Bredasdorp 2 R33 000
7) Carpe diem Trust, Wepener 3 R12 333
8) CRUX Dohnes, Edinburg 1 R17 000
9) Swarco Dohnes, Caledon 1 R15 000
10) Lowmar Dohnes, Cradock 1 R14 000
Photo: Ram viewing at the Graaff Reinet botanical gardens grounds before the 2023 national sale
Photo: Dohne Merino rams arrived at Graaff Reinet for the 2023 national sale