Perendale

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Perendale sheep were developed in New Zealand by Massey University for life on steep hills. The breed is named after Sir Geoffrey Peren and comes from Romney ewes crossed with Cheviot rams, giving sturdy legs. They are raised mainly for meat but also produce wool.

Since the early 1980s, flock numbers have grown as hill-country farming expanded and Perendales adapted well to rugged terrain. They are a dual-purpose breed: wool fibers 29–35 microns in diameter with a staple length of about 125 mm. They are highly fertile and can produce prime ewe lambs when crossed with Merino. In purebred form, they are hardy in cold, high-rain areas. They are easy to care for; ewes lamb easily and are good mothers.

Ram weight: 100–118 kg; ewe weight: 54–68 kg. Wool grade: about 44s to 54s.