Southdown Sheep Society, NZ

"The sheep with an illustrious past and a very bright future"

Member Login

  • Rural News

    • Tide turning on TAF? 21/02/2012
      A GROWING number of Fonterra shareholders are questioning the wisdom of pursuing TAF (trading among farmers) despite the board's continued insistence it […]
    • Prime land under threat 21/02/2012
      PRIME ARABLE farming land is shrinking under pressure from urban sprawl and ETS, says Federated Farmers president Bruce Wills. Farmers are increasing yields by […]
    • DIRA misinformation a worry 21/02/2012
      AGRICULTURE MINISTER David Carter has accused Fonterra and the Fonterra Shareholders Council of initially spreading misinformation about the new DIRA regulation […]
    • OAD best way to keep NZ’s edge 21/02/2012
      ONCE-A-DAY (OAD) milking is the only way New Zealand will retain its competitive advantage, Small Herds Association field day participants were told last week a […]

  • Farming News

    • New hope for kiwifruit growers
      A new gold kiwifruit showing good tolerance to the devastating disease Psa-V is shaping up as the first relief in the recovery process for the former blue chip $1.3 billion export industry. […]
    • PDI looks to $75m investment
      Pastoral Dairy Investments (PDI) says it is seeking to raise at least $75 million to invest in New Zealand dairy farms both through a $25m initial public offering and by targeting other investors including charitable organisations for the other $50m. […]
    • Fonterra chairman mum on share-trading scheme
      Fonterra chairman Sir Henry van der Heyden will not respond publicly to growing farmer demands for a second vote on the contentious proposal for share trading among farmers, despite the threat of an extraordinary shareholders meeting and a website launch. […]

About Us

This is the official website of  The Southdown Sheep Society of New Zealand (INCORPORATED)

The Registered Office of the Society is situated in Feilding. [contact details]

Association History

The first Southdown stud flock in New Zealand was founded in 1863, and almost 150 years on the breed is still a proven champion despite many changes along the way.

The Southdown Society was formed in 1926 after becoming strong enough in its own right to move away from the Sheepbreeders Association where it had been a founding breed in 1894 with 5 flocks. However 22 Southdown flocks did not transfer to the new Society until 1934. [read more ... coming soon]

How the Southdown Society Operates

Any person who has an interest in Southdowns may become a member of the Society by signifying to the Council his/ her desire to become a member, and who shall be proposed by some existing member of the Society, shall, on approval by the Council, be admitted as a member, and entered on the Register of Members.

The Southdown Society is managed by a Council which consists of 10 members spread across NZ. The President and Vice-President are elected on an annual basis. If you wish to know more about joining the Southdown Society, please contact the Society office or a breeder or councillor in your area and they will be only too pleased to help.

The Role of the Southdown Sheep

The role of the Southdown breed in New Zealand is to supply rams for mating with ewes of a number of breeds and crosses to produce lambs for local and overseas consumers. The progeny of Southdown rams grow rapidly and comply with the modern requirements within the meat industry at all weights.

The Southdown breed has contributed substantially to the export meat trade. New Zealand’s reputation, as the major international trader in lamb, has been made through the use of the Southdown ram. The demand for the Southdown cross lamb remains high because of its size, muscle development and meat quality.