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Story: Sheep farming

Cheviot sheep

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Cheviot sheep

The Cheviot has a distinctive appearance, with no wool on its face, head and legs, a curved Roman nose, and erect ears. It was bred for the cold hills of the Scottish Borders, and is hardy and active. Sir Geoffrey Peren used a Cheviot–Romney cross to develop the Perendale breed for New Zealand’s hard hill country.

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Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: AANR 6325 W3302 9

Permission of Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga must be obtained before any re-use of this material.

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How to cite this page

Hugh Stringleman and Robert Peden, Sheep farming – Early imports of British sheep breeds, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/16636/cheviot-sheep (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Hugh Stringleman and Robert Peden, published 1 March 2009, updated 1 March 2015.