Uardry ram rings Dohne record bells

A search for different genetics led Bill Pye, Calga Dohne stud, Coonamble, to outlay an Australian record price of $22,000 for a Dohne ram from the Uardry stud last week.

The previous record of $20,000 was for a Macquarie Dohne ram, also bought by Mr Pye.

The standout ram was sold privately from the Uardry Dohne stud at Hay, after being commended to Mr Pye by James Lilburne, of Australian Topstock, Wagga Wagga.

Uardry manager, Ben Lane, and Mr Pye (pictured with the young sire) agree the ram, Uardry Dohne UD080270, stood out in the 2008 drop.

"He's the biggest ram in the drop," Mr Pye said. "It's a very big, correct ram - virtually perfect in its structural soundness, which has been a problem in the breed.

"We essentially bought him for his fantastic stance and size, good crimp definition and low micron."

The 18-month-old ram also had a Dohne Index of 131.3, with estimated breeding values (EBVs) of +7.37 for bodyweight, fleece weight of +8.44, and fibre diameter of -0.96.

"At 360 days of age, the ram had a 16.7 micron fleece, which is what we're after," Mr Pye said.

"We want to improve our wool quality, while still maintaining the meat characteristics."

Mr Lane said the ram had a proven pedigree for both meat and wool attributes spanning several generations.

The result of artificial insemination, UD080270 is by Macquarie MD063471, a ram initially used to maintain diversity in the Uardry Dohne gene pool.

The ram's dam was by a leading Uardry sire, UD010269, which had an index of 131.9, bodyweight of +5.72, fleece weight of +14.14 and fibre diameter of -0.94.