Story: Sheep farming

Shrek the sheep

Shrek the sheep

Musterer Daniel Devine carries Shrek, a Merino sheep that evaded shearers for six years in Central Otago. Shrek made international headlines in 2004 when he was finally caught and shorn of his massive 27-kilogram fleece. On high-country stations, where sheep are run on mountains and rugged hills, it is not unusual for some to be missed. When they are mustered the following year, they are known as double-fleecers. It is not unheard of for a sheep to miss three shearings, but to miss six is rare indeed.

Using this item

Otago Daily Times
Reference: 15 April 2004, p. 1
Photograph by Stephen Jaquiery

Permission of the Otago Daily Times must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Hugh Stringleman and Robert Peden, 'Sheep farming - The refrigerated meat trade', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/16641/shrek-the-sheep (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Hugh Stringleman and Robert Peden, published 24 Nov 2008, updated 1 Mar 2015