Story: Stock and station agencies

Counting sheep is an important job for a stock agent, because farmers are paid per head of sheep sold. Between arriving at a sale and being trucked out, sheep might be counted three or four times. With thousands of animals to be sold in a day, this has to be done quickly. The sheep are counted as they run through a gateway or along a race. Some agents count them by the pair as they run past; others count five at a time. This is the Rotorua Lamb Fair in 2005.