Dohne sheep breeders from across Victoria and New South Wales got an up close and personal look at their livestock at a carcass appraisal day on Wednesday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The event, organised by the Australian Dohne Breeders Association southern breeders group, saw more than 20 producers examine sheep at Midfield Meat in Warrnambool.
John Nadin of Macquarie Dohne stud at Warren, New South Wales described the carcasses on display.
"The lambs were slaughtered yesterday," he said.
"All are true to type and fine lamb carcasses. They have a beautiful shape, length and width with good long bodies. There's not too much fat so no trimming required on the carcasses."
Mr Nadin thanked Midfield Meat's Colin and Dean McKenna, who examined the carcasses with the producers in the chiller.
Twenty of the carcasses will be donated to aid with fire and flood assistance.
Rob McColl from Braeside Dohnes at Meredith said he was taking home "a whole new perspective on meatworks".
"I never knew they were into the pharmaceutical market," he said.
"All parts of the animal are used."
Producer Judy Ross said it was great to see people come together for the "greater good of the breed and to learn from each other".
Mrs Ross runs a commercial breeding at Balmoral in western Victoria and cropping business near Horsham with her husband Craig.
"We run a dohne flock and a dohne white suffolk cross as well," she said.
"It's about appreciating the company's perspective on where their markets are at and that as producers we have to be flexible to suit the markets as well. It's not just a fit for all the time.
"In a way it's an appreciation of the market ability of the product we are producing on farm and perhaps we need to be more specific with our own marketing opportunities and exploring them within the processing industry."
She said guest speaker Gary Simpson, from Arcadian Wool Supplies, gave an interesting talk about shearing.
Mr Simpson spoke after lunch at the Warrnamool showgrounds.
"Six-month shearing is something I have been tinkering with at home," Mrs Ross said.
"It's great to hear other people's opinion on it. It's refreshing to get off-farm for a day and catch up with everyone and understand that sometimes we make compromises in our business that are for the greater good of the business and just because it's a compromise it doesn't mean it's a bad thing."
Andrew Campbell from Burnbank Dohne Stud north of Cavendish said he learnt about feeding regimes.
"What that reflected was getting the feed into the animals and getting them looking really good is key," he said.
"Overall it was a fantastic day and a good turn up with Dohne breeders.
"I think for composite and cross breeders there's a tremendous opportunity to improve their wool, bring the micron down and with the way wool prices are at the moment they will certainly get a premium.
"I've seen that with people I sell my rams too. There's an opportunity there now."
Mr Campbell said he found the shearing talk thought-provoking.
"I thought it was very informative," he said.
"The possibility of shearing six or eight monthly was very interesting."