Repeat clients chase carcase traits, wool quality at Calga Dohne ram sale

Strong support from local and repeat buyers underpinned the success of the Pye family's 22nd annual Calga Dohne Production ram sale, held for the first time on their property at Calga Station on Wednesday, September 9.

The stud sold 88 of 88 rams to achieve a full clearance under the hammer, for an average of $3139 and a top price of $6000.

The Calga rams attracted strong support from local buyers, along with clients from central and southern Queensland and northern Victoria, while there was also interest from South Australia, including the purchase of a stud ram.

The top-priced ram on the day was lot 48, tag CA250190, which sold for $6000 to Macada Rural, operating through Elders Bathurst.

Mr Pye said the twin-born, April 2025-drop ram combined a balanced set of figures with an excellent phenotype.

He recorded a post-weaning weight of +13.54, placing him in the top 5 per cent of the Dohne breed, while his post-weaning eye muscle depth of +1.46 ranked him in the top 10pc.

The ram also recorded a Dohne Plus index of 231.39, ranking him in the top 5pc of the breed for overall performance.

Macada Rural operates four properties, with Goorianawa Station manager Jason Clarke selecting the rams to be run at its Cudall-based property.

Mr Clarke said the business had been running Dohnes for about 20 years, initially using Dohne rams over Merino ewes sourced from Moree before developing into a pure self-replacing Dohne flock.

"We went with Dohnes for their dual-purpose carcase and wool attributes, and we've been very happy with them," he said.

"Initially, we concentrated on the wool and got it nice and bright and where we wanted it, and now we're trying to boost carcase performance without letting go of the wool quality."

He said the top-priced Calga ram stood out for his balanced combination of carcase and wool traits.

"We were impressed with his carcase figures, and his wool was very good as well. Normally, if you chase one trait, something else starts to drop away, but he had a very balanced set of figures," he said.

Macada Rural also secured two further Calga rams, with lot 14 selling for $4250 and lot 49 for $4000.

Lot 27 in the sale catalogue, tag UC250352, was the second top-priced ram at $5000 and will join the Hillview Dohne stud's breeding program at Streaky Bay, South Australia.

The young sire offered strong growth and wool traits, recording a post-weaning weight of +10.30, yearling clean fleece weight of +19.77 and yearling fibre diameter of -1.53, ranking him in the top 5pc of the breed for each trait. His Dohne Plus index of 211.34 also ranked him in the top 5pc of the breed.

Volume buyer on the day was long-standing Calga clients, the Webb family from Miagunyah, Warrumbungle, who purchased 15 rams for an average of $3116, paying to $4750, while O'Sullivan Farms, Goornong, Victoria, bought 11 rams averaging $2500.

Local buyers provided strong support, with the Smith family, Argilla Pastoral, Coonamble, securing 13 rams at an average of $2615, while Cosgrove Farming Trust, Warren, selected six rams to $4500, averaging $3666.

Queensland buyers were also active, with RA & CM Barden, Cunnamulla, operating through Nutrien Cunnamulla, taking seven rams at an average of $3107, and Scott Winning, Bollon, buying six rams to $4750, averaging $3791.

Calga stud principal Sandy Pye was pleased with the result, especially the sale average, which was nearly $500 higher than last year.

"We were very happy with the result and it was good to see our long-term clients still operating at those prices," he said.

The sale also marked a special milestone for the family, being their first on-property sale after 21 years at the Coonamble Showgrounds.

Held at the original Calga Hill homestead, Mr Pye said the move was aimed at giving clients a more personal experience and the opportunity to see where the sheep were bred.

He said buyers continued to value the Dohne's dual-purpose attributes, particularly carcase and growth, while retaining a strong focus on wool quality.

"Buyers are always chasing carcase traits and good post-weaning weights, but there's still a strong emphasis on quality, stylish white, finer-micron wool, with the fleece weight to go with it," he said.

Nutrien and Elders Coonamble jointly conducted the sale, with Nutrien acting as settling agent this year and its stud stock representative Brad Wilson handling the auctioneering duties.