Sheep Industry News January 2025

store, the evening’s activity was to watch hundreds of these tiny penguins group up into “rafts” offshore then surf in and climb the steep rocky beach up to the safety of their nests overnight. There were so many penguins along the streets on our walk home to the hotel it was hardly believable. It really highlighted the lack of native predators that is so hard for a New Zealand outsider to comprehend. This absence of predators was also apparent in flock management. The only predators in New Zealand are domestic dogs and cats, so be sides a stray dog there is nothing that would pose a threat to sheep. Livestock guardian dogs are not needed, nor is 24/7 shepherding. As we drove by pastures, I would frequently see sheep sleeping flat-out, apparently having lost the need for constant vigilance over generations of living without the threat of predation. The last day of our bus tour, our first stop was Fine Fiber Farms. Stuart and Sue Albrey raise natural-colored Merinos, Polwarths, and English Leicesters on about 125 acres in the Canterbury district. They work with local mills to create combed top, worsted-spun yarn and handcrafted items out of their wool. We continued north along the east coast of the island to Timaru, home of Phoenix mill. In a talk to the congress before the tour, Beverly Forrester had shared the story of the challenges of starting up a large-scale mill. Their business’ aim is to process New Zealand crossbred wool so that farm

ers get a better price for their non-Merino wool clip, and to replace petroleum-based products with a wool alternative. They are currently making felt landscape fabric and small balls of semi-felted wool called “knops” that are great for stuffing and bedding. They have plans for many more prod uct types as their equipment arrives and processing lines are set up. The town of Ashburton marked the last stop on our com prehensive and whirlwind tour at Ashford fiber equipment. Richard and Elizabeth Ashford were on hand to answer any of our questions as we perused their store, and then they took us on a personalized tour of the manufacturing facility. Ashford equipment is made from native beech wood that is sustainably harvested from the South Island. They also pro cess 20 to 25 tons of New Zealand wool in their Milton mill annually. The scale and efficiency of the equipment factory was truly remarkable and their devotion to quality, reliabil ity and durability was clearly seen. This trip was easily some of the most impactful and meaningful times of my life. New Zealanders are so clearly passionate about sheep and wool. Even with the challenges of low wool prices, they are looking at ways to add value to their wool, including forward contracting, creating clothing lines and new products, working directly with local mills and diversifying into other natural fibers. A little ingenuity and passion are going a long way. The World Congress on Colored Sheep will be held next in 2029 – with final dates and location pending – but I have tentatively taken on the role of organizing for it to be held in the United States. Keep an eye out for an official announcement in the future.

24 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org