New Romney & Poll Dorset Performance Sheep Breeding

The NZ Romney sheep traces its origins back to the cold, bleak, flat marshlands of Kent, Southern England, the marshes being drained by the Romans to produce fertile farmland. The first Romney sheep were imported to NZ in the 1870’s where they quickly became established as the predominant breed.

Hiwinui is a flat to rolling 450 hectare (1100 acre) farm located on the northern boundary of Palmerston North city, midway between the townships of Ashhurst and Bunnythorpe, near the Manawatu Gorge. The exposed heavy clay country is prone to excessive wet winters and dry summer and autumns. The dual purpose New Romney sheep are ideal for these harsh climate conditions.

Although it is believed that the Romney sheep were farmed by the Stewart family since the late 1800’s, it wasn’t until 1953 that Alan Stewart established a registered pure bred flock of Romney sheep. The 1950’s proved to be the golden era of the Romney breed and the New Zealand wool industry, the main emphasis revolving around the show ring and the lifting of wool weights, much to the detriment of the New Zealand Romney breed .

During the 1980’s Dave Stewart embarked on an aggressive and ruthless program to lift the performance of the Hiwinui Romney flock. A selection of outside bloodlines were introduced and an intensive program was begun to lift fertility, growth rates - a unique ‘star system’ was introduced to identify mothering ability.

The Hiwinui Romney ram selling operation is based on approximately 1000 recorded ewes. Only the top 33% index rams are carried through for sale, selling beginning in the first week of December each year. Hiwinui Genetics will not run warehouse, bulk barn type selling. The ram client can only make progress through superior genetics. The price and ram client loyalty is rewarded with a picking order, however, new clients can negotiate their way up this order.