Mrs Mills said it was a great opportunity to showcase the stud and commercial Dohne flocks, as the South African breed continues to grow across Australia.

It makes up more than 20 per cent of the national Merino flock.

She said they moved into Dohnes at the turn of the century and were impressed with the breed’s maternal qualities, as well as other benefits.

Dohnes are a plain bodied, open faced and bare breeched animal which would continue to pressure the Merino industry on improved animal welfare.

“We still get a Merino fleece, we still cut between 18 and 21 microns and the good thing about Dohnes is they provide a prime lamb,” Mrs Mills said.

“So you can get a lamb to market really quickly, compared with a merino, and at the moment we’re getting prime lamb prices. They don’t need mulesing, so from an environmental and animal welfare point its good.”

Mr Mills said the stud was registered in 2000, as a means to supplying rams to the market, with clients from throughout Victoria and into Tasmania too. 

In 2016 they sent a consignment of ewes and rams to Chile.

“The first couple of years we participated in the Riverina Dohne Ram Sale, and the first year was quite a successful sale, we only put in six rams, and averaged about four or five thousand dollars,” Ms Mills said.

“But we’re now up to number 12 this year for on-property sales, and we sell approximately 150-200 rams per year.”

They said clients are returning year-by-year because of continued success.

“Our sheep here have to still be able to cut a fine medium Merino-type fleece, but be able to wean a lamb that can grow out and market at 22-24 kilograms carcase weight,” Mr Mills said.

Sheep Week starts in the Western District on Monday, June 5, and continue through to Southern NSW on Friday, June 9.

Kardinia will be participating on June 9, from 9am-5.30pm and is 28km north of Corowa.