Story: Farmer and grower organisations

This ram is being judged at the Royal New Zealand Show in Christchurch in 2007. Breed societies usually prescribe the essential characteristics of a breed. In the case of Merino sheep, there was a New Zealand Merino Breeders’ Society, which also organised events, held a directory of Merino breeders and generally promoted the breed. In addition to the society, there were Merino associations in the North Island, Marlborough, Canterbury, Waitaki and Otago .