Story: Stock and station agencies

Counting sheep

Counting sheep

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.

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New Zealand Herald
Reference: 131205NZHAGSALE05.jpg
Photograph by Alan Gibson

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How to cite this page:

Hugh Stringleman, 'Stock and station agencies - Role in the community', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/17397/counting-sheep (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Hugh Stringleman, published 24 Nov 2008