OUR SHEEP
The dry climate, high altitude and vast open landscapes of Central Otago create an ideal environment for producing exceptional merino wool. Cold winters and hot summers place natural pressure on the sheep, helping develop fleeces renowned for their softness, brightness and character.
At Earnscleugh, sheep are bred to thrive in these demanding conditions – with a strong focus on constitution, fertility, structural soundness and wool quality. Generations of careful selection have created sheep that are not only capable of surviving the extremes, but consistently performing within them.
BREEDING OBJECTIVES
No matter your breeding objectives we have a type that can meet your needs. See the individual objectives below
HORNED MERINOS
POLLED MERINOS
Ultrafine
Our aim within our Ultrafine flock is to reduce micron, hold fleece weight and body weight, and increase staple strength.
The wool type is a free growing, sheeny, nourished, deep crimping style, while pushing length and crimp frequency right up to the limits dictated by the Italian market.
Superfine & Fine
Our aim in the Superfines is to reduce micron and increase wool weight, staple strength and lambing percentage, while Fines hold micron, increase wool weight and lambing percentage.
The wool type is a sheeny, nourished, longstapled, deep crimping and free-growing wool with Superfines pushing length and crimp frequency right up to the limits dictated by the Italian market and Fines heavy cutting and suitable for Icebreaker contracts.
This wool is sold to various mills through zentera.
POLLED MERINOS
Inverino™
When it comes to our polled merinos our focus is to increase wool weight, hold micron, increase fertility to 140%, improve carcase and growth to 12 months on a plain bodied sheep. Wool type aim is a long stapled, free growing, nourished heavy cutting type suitable for Icebreaker contracts.
We aim for our Inverino™ a produce wool in the 19 micron range and provide a dramatic lift in lambing percentage of up to 30-50%.
Mermax™
Our aim with our Mermax™ Poll Merino is to produce wool with a long staple in the 20-22 micron range and give a dramatic lift in muscle ratio and growth rates.
Breeding objectives also include lambs capable of killing at
18-20kg carcase weight and cutting at least 70mm at
8 months of age.
There is also a major emphasis on footrot and worm resistance.
OUR WOOL
Earnscleugh produces 90 to 100 tonnes of quality wool a year through our three main flocks. No matter your breeding objectives we have a type that can meet your needs. See the individual objectives below
- Ultrafine ranging from 10 to 13 microns sold to the Italian company Loro Piana on contract to be used in the finest suits and clothing which they call “The gift of Kings”.
- Superfine are the largest part of our clip. They average in the low 16 micron range. We aim for quality free growing staple with a slightly broader crimp than the micron would suggest. This wool is sold to various wools through Zentera.
- Fine. Our Inverdale flock is especially bred to stay 17.5-18.5 micron to enable as much of the wool clip as possible to be sold through the IceBreaker contracts. The aim here is long, free growing staple with as much weight as possible.
ON-FARM RAM SALE
January
Date to be confirmed
Each year we undertake an on-farm ram sale. The sale is undertaken using a ballot system.
Each year we run an on-farm ram sale.
If you wish to receive information or a catalogue prior to sale date please click on the button below. Additional information will be added closer to sale date.