A Sheep Sale in Both Islands in 2024
The return of the North Island Sale of Sheep in January 2024 means that there will again be a sale of coloured sheep in both of the main islands of New Zealand. The North Island sale will be held in…
Prizes donated for Open Class in Handcraft Competition
Class 5 of the BCSBA annual handcraft competition is an open class, allowing entries from non-members as well as members of the BCSBA. The class in 2024 is for a hand held toy made using 100% natural coloured wool. All…
Numbers of Coloured Sheep in New Zealand
By Wendy Allison New Zealand is known as a country with a lot of sheep. Most of them are white but as the Association that represents black and coloured sheep breeders, we’re often asked how many coloured sheep there are…
Two New Life Members and a National Merit Award
Members of the BCSBA were delighted to bestow Life Membership status to two of our members, and a National Merit award to another at our recent AGM. Shirley Wallace, who also retired as our secretary after ten years service, and…
Classing 101
by Anne Marie Parcell In October, near the end of the season, one of the wool handlers asked me ”AnneMarino are you really glad to be finished at the end of the classing season?”. The answer was a resounding no!…
Annual Conference and AGM
With the new year well underway, members of the BCSBA are beginning to think of the 46th Annual Conference and AGM to be held in Palmerston North, April 20-23 2023. Members will also be preparing entries for the annual competitions;…
Improving lock structure without losing productivity
By Wendy Allison With the price of wool down and the price of meat up, many sheep farmers are turning to lamb sales as their main source of income. But where does that leave those of us who are breeding…
Preparing a fleece for carding
by Steve Clarkson The aim of fleece preparation is to achieve a high quality carded product, which is suitable for further processing (usually spinning or felting). The better the preparation, the better the carded product will be; the proverbial ‘Rubbish…
Instructional Videos on Sheep Care and Fleece Production
The BCSBA is making a series of instructional videos on sheep care and fleece production available via YouTube. The first two have been made and are now available for viewing as follows: Shearing Sheep Testing Rams for Brucellosis As new…
Black and Coloured Milking Sheep Appearing in Paddocks All Over New Zealand
By Kim Lewis, Alamae Stud The most commonly associated breed of sheep associated with milking is the (white) East Friesian which like their bovine cousins of the same name are, le's face it, not the prettiest animal to see in…