Kardinia Dohne stud equals top price and lifts average at annual ram sale

Solid support from repeat buyers, along with several new clients, reflected continued demand for dual-purpose genetics at the Mills family's 21st annual on-property Kardinia Dohne ram sale at Corowa on Thursday, September 17.

Of the 50 rams offered, 43 sold to an 86 per cent clearance, averaging $1860 and topping at $3800. The sale average was $160 higher than last year, with buyers coming from across NSW, as well as Victoria and Tasmania.

The top-priced ram was lot 31, tag KD250238, bought for $3800 by the Lowry family, Glenmore, Wymah, who have been clients of Kardinia for more than 15 years.

Sired by KD220373, the July 2025-drop ram recorded a post-weaning weight ASBV of +6.2 and post-weaning eye muscle depth of +0.98, placing him in the top 30 per cent of the Dohne breed. His post-weaning fat depth of +0.54 ranked him in the top 10pc.

He also ranked in the top 10pc of the breed for yearling fibre diameter coefficient of variation at -1.34, number of lambs weaned at 17pc and the Dohne Plus index at 179.58.

Glenmore's David Lowry said the top-priced ram appealed to him for both his visual attributes and Australian Sheep Breeding Values.

"He stood up really well, had nice, white, clean wool, and his figures backed him up really well," he said.

"I don't shy away from bidding on figures. I think that's important these days, and we can trust them a lot more. That's our first guide, we identify what we want to look at by the figures and then assess them visually."

Mr Lowry runs 1100 pure Dohne ewes in a mixed-grazing operation and said the hardiness of the Dohne was a major reason for the breed's suitability to their hilly, high-rainfall country.

"My father started buying at Kardinia and we've continued that way," he said.

"They're strong sheep and survive well in our environment which is what we really like about them. They stand up really well to our country.

"Getting a good quality fleece of wool doesn't hurt either. We're getting paid reasonably well for 19 to 19.5 micron wool, and we get a decent lamb at the end."

Mr Lowry also purchased another ram, with both sires to be used in their December joining.

One of Kardinia's long-time clients, Col and Dan Withers of Cawarra Pastoral Pty Ltd, Mulwala, took home four rams, paying the equal second-top price of $3600 for two lots. One was lot 38, KD250589, which recorded impressive figures, ranking in the top 10pc of the breed for post-weaning weight, yearling clean fleece weight and the Dohne Plus index.

First-time buyer Cathcart Nominees, Deniliquin, secured seven rams paying $3400 for lot 7, KD250555. The ram ranked in the top 10pc of the breed for post-weaning eye muscle depth, post-weaning fat and yearling clean fleece weight, while his post-weaning weight and Dohne Plus index ranked in the top 30pc.

Operating on AuctionsPlus, the Hopewood Family Trust, Coolac, purchased six rams for an average of $2166 paying to $3000, while Mount Pleasant, Marinna, took home five rams, and IC Boyes Est, Esk Farm, Longford, Tasmania, bought three rams, paying to $2000 twice.

Kardinia stud principal Don Mills was pleased with the result, with strong support from repeat buyers a particular highlight.

"Overall, I was happy," he said.

"About 90 per cent were regular clients, which was good to see. Those people keep coming back to buy our rams, which is always pleasing and gives us a lot of confidence in our genetics.

"Some buyers were a bit apprehensive about what they were going to pay for rams, but I think the sale proved prices were in line with other years and pretty affordable."

Mr Mills said the strength of both the wool and sheep meat markets was creating renewed interest in true dual-purpose sheep.

"It's an interesting point in the industry where wool, lamb and mutton are all good," he said.

"I think buyers now are looking for a real, true dual-purpose animal that is good in both its meat and wool attributes. When they see an animal that fits both criteria, that's what they're looking for."

The sale was jointly conducted by Elders Albury and Nutrien Albury, with Nutrien South East stud stock manager Peter Godbolt handling the auctioneering. AuctionsPlus provided the online interface.