Diversity

About Raglan Romney SheepAbout Raglan Romney Sheep



The Raglan Romney feral sheep were sourced from a bush- and scrub-covered peninsula jutting into the eastern side of Raglan Harbor in the Waikato, New Zealand.

The first group of two rams and four ewes was mustered in April 1976; eight ewes were added in December of that same year. (The peninsula was subsequently cleared of bush - and sheep - and broken in for farming.)

The descendants of this small flock remained in the care of Government farms since that time until mid-2005. Apart from a few rams that were released to one breeder for use in grading up, a carefully controlled breeding program was undertaken over that period to retain the genetic purity of the line.

Raglan Sheep are relatively small, and although they most closely resemble early Romney imports, some animals show a resemblance to the Cheviot in their arched noses and lack of wool on the poll.  

Content and Photo Source: New Zealand Rare Breeds (www.rarebreeds.co.nz).