Ram lambs from UK sheep embryos sell for sky-high prices in NZ

The UK sheep industry is leading the way for wool-shedding genetics, with sales of ram lambs produced from frozen UK sheep embryos attracting high premiums in New Zealand.

Wairere, New Zealand’s largest ram breeder, has imported almost 500 embryos from the UK in the past 18 months to start a wool-shedding stud flock in the country.

The embryos were then put into surrogate ewes in New Zealand and produced a range of Easycare lambs and first-cross Nudie lambs, some of which were sold as ram lambs at Solway Showground, Masterton, New Zealand, on 1 March.

See also: Breeders step up hunt for wool-shedding genetics

At the sale, the 24-week-old purebred Easycare ram lambs achieved significant interest and averaged $4,281 a head (£2,200 a head).

In total, 92 ram lambs were sold, including Romney/Nudie crossbred rams, and the overall average on the day was $3,994 a head (£2,055 a head).

UK sheep producers

The embryos used were exported from several farmers in the UK that specialise in wool-shedding genetics, including Shropshire farmer Hayden Woolley, who provided about 400 embryos.

Mr Wooley said Wairere NZ became interested in the Easycare breed after witnessing growing global demand for sheep that shed their fleece.

“Wairere NZ has obviously recognised that the uneconomic work and management challenges related to wool production can be removed, saving labour, and improving animal welfare.

“UK Easycare sheep offer the absolute lowest possible production costs, with an estimated 80% of labour costs being related to wool,” he added.

Scottish farmers Barry Sangster, in Berwickshire, and Tom Welch, in the Borders, also sold embryos to Wairere.

Sires for the embryos and semen were provided by Barry Sangster, Tom Welch, and two producers in Northern Ireland, Steven Johnston and Campbell Tweed.

UK sheep embryos could also be exported to Australia in the coming years, according to producers.