Dohnes continue to shine

PRESIDENT'S REPORT 2012

As the wool and meat markets across Australia have settled down the Dohne continues to shine, with many reports of the high fertility, growth and hardiness the breed is renowned for.

With the high prices for ewes keeping many potential purchasers on hold at the moment, it augurs well for the immediate future of the sheep industry.

The financial institutions are still favouring those with the internal diversification in their farming systems.

Last year and the beginning of 2012 has proved extremely busy for all council members with meetings being held at fortnightly intervals to try and cope with the extra pressure that all the changes we have made were slowly incorporated.

We have moved to Sheep Genetics now and the ASBVs will have already started to flow through to members who have submitted data.

The Maternal Traits have still not been turned on as many members still have not submitted the reproduction data.

So I send the request to you all, please do so at your earliest convenience - it will be invaluable to us in time.

While on this subject, we will be introducing a Maternal Index as well as our normal one so breeders and buyers alike can select stock on what they believe is the most important to them.

I personally will be using the Maternal Index for all ewes as I believe it will help us maintain and improve the fertility in our flocks.

Also this year we will be making changes to our Nucleus and Foundation Flock systems to make it easier for the committed breeder to bring the very best of their commercial animals into his or her flock.

We will be updating all members with these changes which were ratified at our last forum.

For those people who normally get ABS to correct and submit their data, that door is still open for you, so don'worry but bear in mind that it will cost a little extra to do so.

While I am on the subject of ABS, I would like to thank them for their efforts over a long period of time and for their help into the future.

Allan, Brett and Jac have done a great job for us, so thanks guys.

Last year we held a National Dohne Ram Sale and by all accounts it was a very successful start with Bruce Barnes-Webb securing top price for one of his rams on offer.

To the council members who have given up their free time and without complaint, I very much appreciate the work and effort that you have put in to oversee all the changes that have taken place.

I also welcome Bruce Barnes-Webb to the team and his input and knowledge will be of great assistance to us.

To those who don't know, these people have put in hours and hours of their time so please acknowledge them when you see them. They do this work on your behalf.

 To Rob Martin and the staff at the Adelaide showgrounds, thank,  you very much for your assistance, we would not know what to do without you Rob.

The promotional group has been very active and done a very good job for us, given the restraints of our budget. Thank you all for your time and effort.

As things move forward, the team headed by Sam Gill has done its best to guide us on the way to the new systems and have been very supportive of all our efforts. I thank Sam and all those conerned for this.

The assistance provided by Meat and Livestock Australia, the Sheep CRC and James Rowe has also been very much appreciated.

Members, if you are unsure about any of the new ASBVs, please ring Sam or someone from his team and they will quite happily explain it all to you.

You will now be able to collect data on many different breeding values, if it is your wish.

Our National Forum conducted earlier this year in Adelaide was again a success and well attended with a lot of input from individual members.

Most agreed it was well worth the effort for them to attend.

Just remember, we are committed to lifting the standard of rams being offered for sale so please check and double check before you sell a ram.

It is your responsibility, no one elses. Also know that your council members are available for your suggestions and to fill in any information that you may require.

To all State bodies, congratulations on your efforts to date and the council looks forward to working with you again this year.

On behalf of all members I would like to thank again our assessor group for the work they put into the development and improvement of the breed, it is greatly appreciated by us all.

It is our mission to keep the Dohne breed at the forefront of wool and meat sheep in Australia and indeed across the world.

I personally thank you all for your assistance in helping me throughout the year to keep this wonderful breed alive and growing.

David Kain