An Australian farmer’s perspective on New Zealand sheep farming in 1938

Speaking at a meeting of the Young Farmers' Club in Gisborne, Ross Tame expressed surprise at the limited range of sheep breeds in New Zealand. According to him, in his region, near Adelaide, a much greater variety of British breeds is used to produce fat lambs: Suffolk, Southdown, Border Leicester, Ryeland, Hampshire Down, and Dorset Horn. Australian specialists use them as sires, crossing them with Merino sheep.

The Australian guest also drew attention to herd management methods. In particular, he spoke about the practice of using special rugs for Merinos. Such a measure helps protect the fleece from dust and obtain a cleaner fiber. According to the farmer, on one Australian farm, up to 2,000 animals were fitted with rugs. Tame also noted that on his farm, breeding rams undergo a mandatory inspection by a special committee, which has the authority to cull animals that do not meet the standards.

Among the features of New Zealand agriculture, Tame highlighted the high uniformity of the livestock, which, in his opinion, explains the stable quality of lamb carcasses on the market. He also noted the high stocking density — up to five sheep per acre, the abundance of green pastures, and the large number of shelterbelts. At the same time, the farmer expressed the opinion that there is a significant level of resource loss on New Zealand farms.

Despite the critical remarks, the visit ended with an exchange of experience: Ross Tame purchased a purebred Ryeland ram at Massey Agricultural College for export to Australia. This fact, according to observers, confirmed the Australian side's recognition of the value of New Zealand breeding.