New Zealand Introduced Animals > Auckland Island PigAuckland Island PigDomesticated Livestock of Feral Origin – Rare BreedORIGIN: Arapawa Island, Marlborough, New Zealand. BREED DESCRIPTION: Arapawa sheep are lean and light-boned, they have clear narrow faces with alert bright eyes. The rams horns can spiral over a metre in length. USE IN NEW ZEALAND: The fleece of the Arapawa is of merino-like fineness and particularly high bulk. Other uses include meat, trophy rams and preservation of the breed. GENERAL: Historical records suggest that sheep have been known on Arapawa Island for at least 130 years. Arapawa sheep are thought to be the descendants from an escapee flock of predominantly merino sheep that were brought over from Australia in 1867. Arapawa sheep are also naturally more resistant to fly-strike. At Ag Research, Lincoln, in Canterbury, research is currently underway to introduce this characteristic of the Arapawa into a new “no fuss” sheep breed. |
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