Thread: Wild Sheep Arapawa Island

Originally Posted by Boxton

They are not Saxon Merino
Their closest DNA related sheep is the Gulf sheep which in themselves are endangered
The Arapawa type sheep on mainland can not be considered pure unless provenance is proven
Your all experts however.
Just thought I'd raise awareness that the base flock of these sheep which is the mainstay of many trophy hunting and lifestyle flocks is at risk
No different to Fiordland Waps...look at effort that goes there...a deer is a deer right...shoot out all the Stewart island ones...there's some on the mainland.
No different
I've appreciated your input though.

SO where did they come from in the first place????
dropped off by the likes of Jimmy Cook for stranded sailers and sealers????

my point is......they survived and bred to the best able to suit the conditions..single small lamb,easy birthing,they regulate their breeding cycle to fit the seasons,the shed wool where it will be an issue,they dont get overburdened with worms of ticks or they died
left alone with whatever other breeds of sheep they will still rise to the top of heap as those same traits will again be the winner
saw two small mobs on roadside today down between waimate and oamaru....
fiordland waps..are no longer pure waps,havent been for many a year,they are fiordland deer,and the best of them are MOSTLY wap bloodline...
good on you for trying to keep a pure line for future,they are great sheep and taste wonderful..if I still had land to put them on I would still have my small flock.