At the 2nd Dohne World Conference, last year in South America, the statement was made that the sun never sets over the Dohne breed, i.e. a world-class sheep with which farmers make a living despite many obstacles and extreme environmental conditions. A sheep that produces quality wool and meat that is recognized, sought after and highly regarded worldwide.
Lately, despite many challenges facing Dohne farmers worldwide, new challenges have emerged, in keeping the Dohne relevant regarding production and reproduction to generate income. Production levels of Dohne sheep are no longer a challenge at only farm level, but international factors influencing production/ reproduction levels must be looked at seriously.
The lack of biosecurity nationally, and statements from world leaders, have now also become a major factor that the Dohne farmer must consider when marketing meat and wool. How much will it be affecting sheep production systems? As a stud breeder we have a responsibility to the industry and commercial farmers to provide breeding material even better adapted to the rapidly changing environment. Extreme climate change and consumers who are more aware of production methods and its impact on the environment when making their purchases, must be included in breeding objectives.
Biosecurity and traceability are playing an increasingly important role in the marketing of our products. It is crucial that we as Dohne farmers approach the future with a wider vision and greater transparency to stay at the forefront of sheep production worldwide. This is despite many challenges that we do not always have control over.
Our Dohne breed has already proven itself under extreme conditions, Therefore the time has come for us as a society and breeders to ensure that what the Dohne is known for, stays relevant and is preserved for the future.
Dohne sheep are extremely well positioned to produce both wool and mutton. The recent decrease in wool and mutton price, is not enough reason to fiddle around with our breeding policy that has proven itself under many similar crises. A more hostile environment on account of drastic changes in nature and climate, will pose increased challenges to producers/breeders to improve on the hardiness of the Dohne for the future
We are faced with a situation where the prices of products are determined by politicians with their own agendas. The demand for food and protein is increasing as a result of growing urbanization of the population and natural resources are increasingly coming under pressure as a result of global climate change. This is truly, a challenge to producers and breeders of the ‘WORLD BREED’ in a ‘WORLD ENVIRONMENT’.
I trust that when reading this, the whole DOHNE world has had good rain. May you and your loved ones experience a true Christmas feast, and may the wind fill the sails of the DOHNE ship in 2020.
Thank you to Kobus, Marion and Susan for your selfless service to us as breeders.
MAY THE DOHNE BE THE SHEEP BREED FOR THE FUTURE THAT STOOD THE TEST OF TIME… !!!
Greetings
Koos Vosloo
President
Met die 2de Dohne Wêreld Konferensie verlede jaar in Suid Amerika is die stelling gemaak dat die son nooit oor die Dohne ras sak nie, m.a.w. ‘n ware wêreld-skaap waarmee boere ‘n bestaan maak ten spyte van vele struikelblokke en uiterste natuur-omstandighede. ‘n Skaap wat wol en vleis lewer van gehalte wat wêreldwyd erken word, gesog is en hoog geag word.
Ondanks vele uitdagings wat Dohne boere wêreldwyd ervaar om die Dohne relevant te hou ten opsigte van produksie en reproduksie om sodoende inkomste te genereer, het nog nuwe uitdagings die laaste ruk ook na vore gekom. Die produksie van Dohne’s is nie net meer op plaasvlak ‘n uitdaging nie, daar moet nou internasionaal gekyk word na faktore wat produksie/ reproduksie beinvloed.
Die gebrek aan biosekuriteit nasionaal en uitsprake van wêreldleiers wêreldwyd is nou ‘n faktor waarmee die Dohneboer rekening moet hou in die bemarking van vleis en wol. Hoe groot gaan die invloed op skaapproduksie stelsels wees? As stoetteler het ons ‘n verantwoordelikheid teenoor die bedryf en kommersiële boere om teeltmateriaal te voorsien wat aangepas is by die vining veranderende omgewing. Faktore soos uiterste klimaatsverandering en ‘n verbuiker wat meer let op produksie stelsels en die impak daarvan op die omgewing, wanneer hulle produkte koop, wat hul aankoop, mag teeltdoelwitte laat verskuif.
Biosekuriteit en naspeurbaarheid begin reeds ‘n al groter rol speel in die bemarking van ons produkte. Dit is van kardinale belang dat ons as Dohne boere, die toekoms benader met ‘n wyer visie en groter deursigtigheid om wêreldwyd op die voorpunt van skaapproduksie te bly. Dit is ten spyte van baie veranderings waaroor ons nie altyd beheer het nie.
Ons Dohne ras het homself reeds bewys onder uiterste toestande. Die tyd het nou gekom dat ons as genootskap en telers, verseker dat dit waarvoor die Dohne bekend is, relevant en behoue bly vir die toekoms.
Dohne skape is uitstekend geposisioneer ten opsigte van wol en vleis produksie en die dalings in wol en vleispryse is nie genoeg rede om te karring aan ons teeltbeleid wat reeds deur vele soortgelyke krisisse bewys is nie. ‘n Meer ongenaakbare omgewing a.g.v. drastiese natuur en klimaatsveranderings gaan groter eise aan produsente/telers stel om die Dohne nog meer gehard te hou vir die toekoms.
Ons sit met ‘n situasie waar die pryse van produkte bepaal word deur politici met eie agendas terwyl die vraag na voedsel en veral proteiene toeneem. Die groeiende verstedeliking in die bevolking bring natuurlike hulpbronne al hoe meer onder druk afgesien van globale klimaatsverandering. Voorwaar ‘n uitdaging wat vir produsente en telers van die ‘WERELDRAS’ voorlê in ‘n ‘WERELDOMGEWING’.
Ek hoop dat met die lees hiervan, die hele DOHNE wêreld al lekker reën gehad het. Mag u en u geliefdes ‘n ware Christusfees ervaar en mag die DOHNE die seile van ons 2020 skip sommer lekker bol laat staan.
Baie dankie aan Kobus, Marion en Susan vir jul onbaatsugtige diens aan ons as telers.
MAG DIE DOHNE IN DIE TOEKOMS DIE SKAAPRAS WEES WAT DIE TOETS VAN DIE TYD DEURSTAAN !!!
Groete
Koos Vosloo
President