Dohne carcass and wool wins iconic wether trial

Annie and David Berrell, Midgery Dohnes, Walgett, excelled with their wool and carcase traits to win the prestigious Walgett Show Merino Wether Trial. Photo supplied

The dual-purpose traits of wool and carcass gave the Dohne breed the edge to dominate the prestigious 2025/2026 Walgett Show Merino Wether Trial, taking out the overall champion.

The results were announced at the 86th annual Walgett Show on May 9-10 following the shearing of the 16 competing teams in March.

David and Annie Berrell, Midgery Dohne Merino Stud, Walgett, won the Fletchers International Exporters champion team trophy (combined wool and carcass) in what is billed as the nation’s longest running wether trial.

Midgery also won the Clemson Hiscox & Co Nutrien Ag Solutions Trophy for the carcass class.

The teams of eight wethers were run as a single mob for 12 months at a host property at Carinda before visual and objective data collection at shearing and slaughter. The scores from the top six sheep in each team were collated to determine the placings.

In second place was a team from Mark and Caitlin Currey along with Mark’s parents, Jim and Sue Currey, Bogewong Butcher Co, Walgett, reinforcing the Dohne breed’s wool and carcass quality and consistency.

Both teams were classed by Australian Dohne Breeders Association approved classer James Koster.

Originally established as a means of raising money for the local show and starting with just eight teams representing two bloodlines, the wether trial is now considered the longest running event of its type, held continuously for nearly 50 years. […]

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