Growth in Fertility
The dramatic improvement in Lambing percentages seen in the graph below has almost soley resulted from the introduction and development of Dohne Genetics at Far Valley since 1999. The Far Valley Dohne's are a very versatile, Dual Purpose animal.
Matings
Far Valley 2005 Mating
- Total Mated 3,627 F1 & F2 commercial ewes
- Including 1,395 maidens
- Joined for 28 days to pure Dohne Rams
Scanning
- 2,084 carrying singles
- 1,277 carrying twins
- 266 dry
- Conception rate of 129%
*An increase of 47 % in 6 years
Included in the above figures are:
- 1,346 Foundation Flock Ewes
- 561 carrying singles
- 726 carrying multiples
- 59 dry
*Conception Rate of 149%
Wammco
Wammco accepts Dohnes as prime lamb
In late April 2005 a trial was conducted by WAMMCO in Katanning in conjunction with a number of Dohne growers to assess the suitability of the Dohne lamb for the prime lamb market. Six lines of lambs were slaughtered and the following results were obtained. As can be seen, some other trial results were offered and the Far Valley Dohnes compared very favourably against other prime lamb breeds.
Trial results
TABLE 1: Carcase weight, Fatness and Meat Quality
Scroll sideways to view table.
| Vendor | NO | F1/F2 | Hot Carcase Weight | Fat Score | GR | C Site Fat | EMA | Meat Colour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G. Beeck & Co | 32 | F1 | 22.7 | 3.0 | 12.3 | 3.3 | 15.4 | 39.4 |
| TJ Fisher & Co | 28 | F1 | 21.1 | 2.3 | 9.0 | 3.0 | 13.6 | 37.4 |
| TJ Fisher & Co | 12 | F2 | 22.1 | 2.0 | 8.2 | 2.3 | 14.0 | 38.3 |
|
Far Valley |
40 |
F2 |
26.1 |
3.2 |
14.2 |
4.1 |
17.4 |
37.5 |
| RD & TL Parsons | 40 | F1 | 20.6 | 2.9 | 11.8 | 3.7 | 15.5 | 37.3 |
| KJ & CD Parsons | 33 | F1 | 22.5 | 3.0 | 12.4 | 3.8 | 15.1 | 38.1 |
Other breed trial results
Scroll sideways to view table.
| Vendor | NO | F1/F2 | Hot Carcase Weight | Fat Score | GR | C Site Fat | EMA | Meat Colour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pure Merino | 85 | Pure | 22.9 | 3.2 | 10.7 | 3.5 | 13.8 | 34.6 |
| Border Leicester F1 | 87 | F1 | 22.2 | 2.5 | 8.8 | 2.6 | 15.4 | 33.9 |
| Poll Dorset F2 | 66 | F2 | 29.7 | 4.5 | 19.1 | 8.0 | 16.0 | 35.1 |
| SAMM F1 | 216 | F1 | 23.3 | 2.8 | 13.7 | 4.3 | 15.1 | 34.3 |
Notes:
- GR is the depth of tissue 110mm from the backbone along the twelfth rib.
- EMA is Eye Muscle Area.
- Meat Colour ( the higher the number, the better colour).
- Pure Merino, Border Leicester F1 and Poll Dorset F2 lambs all involved in Department of Agriculture teeth eruption trial. All lambs were run on separate properties Pantapin, Beverley and Quairading respectively. The F1 and F2 lambs were finished on pasture alone whereas the Merino lambs were finished on pasture + lupins.
- The SAMM F2 lambs from Speddingup East were involved in a Department of Agriculture study examining if lambs could be finished on lucerne. The lambs were finished on lucerne alone, a loose grain mix plus hay or a commercial pellet.
Wool
2004 Commercial Clip Results
The clip consisted of 180 Bales at 19.7 micron. It was sold on the 6th of May 2005 for an average sweep-the-floor price of $4.85 per Kg.
Feedlot
Sale
The fourth annual Far Valley Dohne Ram Sale was held on the 29th September 2005.
96 rams were sold with the top price ($3300) being paid for FV04 0963. This large framed, deep bodied ram has the outstanding figures of BW% - 13.3, Fibre Diameter Deviation -2.1 and an index of 137.3.
His sire FV02 0289 is currently the number one ranked sire in Australia, and his dam FV02 0332, produced the three outstanding rams in the catalogue.
He will be used in a commercial flock to increase body weights and improve fertility.
Gross Margins
Improved Pasture Trial
29 Ha of pasture - Crimson, Prima Gland, Dalkeith Clovers and a mixture of 5 Tetraloid Rye Grasses.
Scroll sideways to view table.
| 269 Maiden Ewes | = 16.2 WGDSE |
| 317 Lambs | = 118% |
| Lambs birth weight | = 3.76 kg |
| 80 day weight | = 36.1 kg |
| Growth rate | = 451 grams/day |
Gross Margin Projection (based on actuals)
| 269 ewes | ||
| 5.75 kg wool @ $5.00 | = 1546 kg | = $7,734.00 |
| 317 lambs | ||
| 1.5 kg wool @ $3.00 | = 475 kg | = $1,426.00 |
| 317 @ $70.00 average | = $22,190.00 | |
| Total | = $31,350.00 | |
| $1,081.00 / hectare | ||