Page 7 - Calga Dohnes Newsletter 2020_Flip Book Neat

A year of highs & lows at
Caroonboon Station

John Stephens Caroonboon Station Manager

The last year has definitely had its highs and lows. The finish to
2019 was very tough. Dry conditions, high water prices, bush-
fires and now dealing with Covid-19 has definitely contributed
to the lows. However, our start to 2020 from a rainfall per-
spective has been extremely positive. We recorded 35 ml in
Feb and a further 101 ml in March which set up the season up
perfectly! April received 95 ml and although May and June
were dry, July has been good so far with a much needed 33 ml
across the property. We are currently sitting on 322 ml for the
year which is definitely the high we needed!

Although our lamb numbers were well down last year due to
unfavourable seasonal conditions, they went on to average July marks 5 years since Billl’s accident. This year we erected fencing
$162 which was a pleasing result. In 2020 we scanned all flock at Bill’s memorial rock and have planted old man saltbush + Myall trees
ewes, achieving 92% scanned in lamb. The remaining 714 dry in the 4 plantations. We hope it will be a nice place to visit , an oasis in
ewes which we re-joined to Dohne’s and scanned again in 43 the middle of the treeless plain.
days ended up with 85%.
Our Merino stud is progressing well. We sent James, one of
Approximately 400 acres of Barley and 150 acres of Oats were our top sires, to the Classing Classic at Murray Bridge. He went
planted at the end of May to provide grain for our feeding pro- onto make $18,000 and we retained 50% of the semen rights
grams, emergence has been slow but recent rain will set the which we have used in our A.I. program this year as well as
crop up for a strong finish in the spring. Lamb marking in June Boonoke’s top poll Ram 160536.
was extremely pleasing. An average of 131% overall was 157 Merino Rams were sold in the last year with quite a few
achieved from scanned ewes, which is definitely the best I have new enquires from potential clients.
seen since my time at Caroonboon.
Although the wool market has softened, sheep sales have been
extremely strong and the demand is even greater given the
favourable season. As Covid-19 will continue to cause disrup-
tion in trading (especially wool), the hope that the virus can be
contained to stop further spread and disruption to world mar-
kets. On a domestic scale it has affected our Ram sales and
also exposure at Sheep shows (particular in Bendigo). Upcom-
ing Ram sales are likely to occur online given the current cir-
cumstances.

We welcomed a new staff member in Jack Pyle. He has joined
the team at Caroonboon this January and has fitted in very
well.

Hopefully the rain continues in 2020.

Green grass brings smiles all round for the Cosgrove family at
Wirrilahlee near Warren
We again took advantage of the free TOCAL Side x Side
WHS training at both Calga & Caroonboon Stations
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