COONALPYN-based Mt Alma Dohne Merino sale raised the benchmark for the breed last week, with their average soaring despite an increased offering. In a total clearance, 169 outstanding rams, mostly April/May 2015-drops, sold to $5400 and averaged $2252 – up $329 on 2015. Ike and Carolyn and Eric and Sophie Ashby catalogued an extra 30 rams to widen the selection for buyers,
but demand remained strong from the first to the final pens. It was the largest offering of Dohne rams in Australia and featured exceptional carcase and wool quality. Lot one set the positive tone for the sale, making the top price.
Each year the Ashbys generously donate a ram to charity and this year the proceeds were shared between the Broken Hill sub branch of Royal Flying Doctor Service and a charity supporting Cystic Fibrosis.
The$5400 ramwas bought by Ian and Meralyn Jackson, Tirlta Station via Broken Hill, NSW. “It is a fantastic service,” Mrs Jackson said. “We support them as much as we can.”
The 114-kilogram twin born ram, sired by Mt Alma 130307, had a great balance of figures with a yearling weight of 6.2 and Dohne index of 140.
The Jacksons bought 23 rams averaging $2048. Rams found new homes from Yorke Peninsula to the Lower South East, but local buyer Parish Rural, Colebatch, was the sale’s largest, with 27 rams averaging
$2648. This included the $5200 second-highest price.
Luke Mashford, Katalpa Station via Broken Hill, NSW, secured 19 rams to $3000, averaging $2095. MrMashford said they had enjoyed 130 per cent lambing percentages this season and strong demand for their
Dohne feeder lambs. “They are always a good even line and present well,
giving us options,” he said.
“The feedlots gobble them up on AuctionsPlus.” Eric was “over the moon” with the result and support from their terrific clients. He was thrilled with the client feedback they continue to receive on how the wether lambs are keenly
sought by feedlotters and ewes in demand as breeders. It was the stud’s heaviest line of paddock-run rams, averaging 100.3kg.
“Our aim is to present our rams in good paddock forward condition which adapt well when they get into their new environments,” he said.