2024 Feature Breed - Dohne Merino

The Dohne Merino breed was first introduced to Australia in 1998 and the Australian breed society formed in 2000.

With emphasis on both meat and wool traits, it presented the opportunity to have a true dual purpose sheep, which provided an alternative to the fine or medium wool Merinos, and specialist prime lamb breeds or composites that have been traditionally used in sheep enterprises.

The maternal qualities of the Dohne ewe proved perfect for Australian conditions. They are survivors - resilient and fertile. They are natural mothers who rear high performance lambs and produce quality apparel Merino wool.

Full pedigree, modern objective breeding techniques coupled with stringent subjective classing to maintain breed standards have been the foundation of the Dohne's success. The following economic traits are recorded:

• Body Weight at weaning and post weaning,
• Wool Weight and Fibre Diameter at post weaning,
• Eye Muscle Depth and Fat Depth at post weaning.

Ethically, as an apparel wool producer the Dohne stands alone with a natural bare breech eliminating the need for mulesing.

The popularity of the breed has seen the Dohne spread to most sheep producing countries: the South Americas, New Zealand, Russia, North America and China.

DOHNE MERNIO FEATURE BREED MARQUEE PROGRAM