The first Sheep were landed in New Zealand by Captain Cook in 1773. The Sheep population grew to 70.3 million in 1982 but has now declined to approximately 43 million due to declining profits compared to other types of farming. This represents 12 sheep for every person in New Zealand. Just as well they cannot vote!
The main breed farmed in New Zealand are Romney, an English breed. They are largely dual purpose wool/meat animals and their wool is predominantly strong. New Zealand is the world's largest producer of crossbred (stong wool) contributing 25% of the world's total. This is two and a half times as much as contributed by China, the next most significant producer of strong wool. This type of wool is used mainly in interior textiles such as carpets, upholstery, furnishings, bedding, and rugs. It is also used for handknitting yarn and blankets. Sheepskin Slippers are made from the skins.
The Merino was New Zealand’s first sheep and today there are just over 2 million of them. Most Merinos are found in the rugged South Island hill country, where it is the only breed to thrive on the high altitude pastures of native grass. Merinos stay in mobs and move quickly. Despite a heavy fleece, they are fairly small and hardy which means they survive the cold. Merinos have a very dense fleece - about 50 million fibres - nearly three times as many as other breeds. The wool is very fine and soft and although the outside of the fleece looks grey, inside it is quite white. The wool is 6.5 to 10cm long and has close wrinkles. A Merino grows 3.5 to 5 kg of wool every year. All rams and some of the ewes have horns. Merino wool is made into very fine fabrics for men and women’s fashion wear.
New Zealand is a world leader in agricultural research and advisory services. Pastoral agriculture is practiced throughout New Zealand with beef cattle predominating in the Far North, dairying in Waikato and Taranaki, and Sheep farming with cattle in the hills and in the south of the North Island. In the South Island sheep farming is the main form of pastoral agriculture with a sprinkling of beef cattle farmed in the high and hill country and wetter flat areas and some dairying on the flat land of both coasts.
Livestock are rarely housed, but feeding of small quantities of supplements such as hay and silage can occur, particularly in winter. Grass growth is seasonal, largely dependent on location and climatic fluctuations but normally occurs for between 8-12 months of the year. Stock are grazed in paddocks, often with moveable electric fencing around the farm. Lambing and calving are carefully managed to take full advantage of spring grass growth.
Grasslands have been developed to the extent that the best sheep farms can carry up to 25 sheep per hectare throughout the year.
