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Koonik and Hamilton Run Dohne's Fiona and Darren Cameron have fast become two of the most respected breeders of the Dohne-Merino.
Based in Nurcoung, Vic, they've listened to the concerns of stud and commercial breeders to produce a line meeting the specifications of the southeast Australian market.
Mrs Cameron said using proven sires over elite Koonik ewes had helped maintain those strong Dohne meat and growth characteristics.
"We are known for our good wool on meat sheep," Mrs Cameron said.
"We were told that 98 per cent of our clients' progeny from a Merino-Dohne joining had typical characteristics of high lambing percentages and sheep meat traits.
"But 10 years ago when we were told that same progeny were lacking in wool quality and quantity, we responded with a renewed target in wool direction.
"We've bred for skin texture, staple strength and handle using the very best sires. These include the high-impact Koonik-bred KDS151498 named both 2016 Australian Sheep & Wool Show junior champion and 2017 supreme champion Dohne, and HR160121 named 2018 ASWS supreme champion Dohne."
Koonik Dohnes has grown rapidly since its inception in 2008.
Mrs Cameron said when she and her husband were no longer achieving their goals through the Merino, they looked further afield.
"The Dohne-Merino is a well-balanced sheep and ticked all the boxes.
"Ewes cut between five and six kilograms of soft, well-nourished, 18- to 21-micron wool. At the same time, prime lambs are rapid maturing with growth rates of up to 450 grams per day."
Mrs Cameron said over the past decade, Koonik had sold genetics to all Australian mainland states.
"Our rams have sold to clients from high rainfall regions to pastoral country," she said.
"At Nurcoung, average rainfall is 450mm but we've experienced summers ranging from seriously wet with no flystrike to hot, dry and dusty, and then bitterly cold winters with floods.
"While Koonik and Hamilton Run Dohnes are not old studs, we sold nearly 300 rams last season.
"Our sheep have been put to the test, and passed."
Brad Blackwood of Windy Hill, Nhill, Victoria, has trusted Koonik Dohnes and the Camerons' smaller Mitre Rock Poll Merino line for the past five years.
Mr Blackwood said the Camerons' genetics were an obvious choice for stud and commercial breeders.
"The good quality wool and great meat of the Mitre Rock and Koonik sheep are a standout.
"The Camerons are truly fantastic to deal with.
"They are great, friendly people and the follow-up of progeny and their performance is wonderful."
A boost in numbers and a new breed high
Mrs Cameron said in 2018, Koonik purchased 75 per cent of the best Hamilton Run Dohne stud ewes.
She said it was perfect timing to acquire Hamilton Run's stud.
"We were looking to increase our numbers and had travelled to most states looking for suitable genetics.
"But Hamilton Run Dohnes were the closest to our stud's genetics that we had seen."
The highlight of the deal was the purchase of the 2018 ASWS grand champion Dohne ram for a breed high of $35,000.
HR160121 was sired by HR130004, which sold privately to a Chilean stud in 2016 for $20,000. Its grandfather, HR100046, sold to Eagle Ridge stud, Cowell, SA, in 2013 for $10,000.
The Camerons will continue to run the Dohne studs separately with the guidance of Gary Simpson and Ian Bradtke.
Progeny of HR160121, among others, will be available at The Ultimate Dohne Sale at Mount Pleasant, SA, on August 13. Koonik and Hamilton Run Dohnes will join JAG Dohnes to have 60 rams and 50 ewes for auction.
Koonik's on-property sale on October 1 will see a further 100 rams offered.
"We spend every day working hard to breed the very best rams," Mrs Cameron said.
"Our family were deeply saddened by the loss of the Dohne and Merino industry icon, Bill Mildren, last month.
"Bill was highly regarded in his field and was a much-loved member of our family and stud. We miss him greatly.
"Ours is a team effort, and we thank our stud team, family, friends and loyal clients who continue to trust in Koonik genetics."
