Type the name of the breed you're looking for below

[wpdreams_ajaxsearchlite] Don't see the breed your're looking for? Click here and let us know!
Pitt Island sheep
[fbcomments]

Pitt Island sheep

Place of Origin New Zealand
Origin The Chatham Islands, inhabited by about 50 people, lie about 750 kilometers (469 miles) east of the Mainland of New Zealand. In 1841, Saxony Merino sheep were introduced to the Island. They have been untended for about 80 years.
Purpose Feral
Characteristics Natural selection has resulted in self-shedding fleeces and natural parasite resistance. Originally, they were all white. Half were black by 1950. Since 1997, 90 percent of flock has been pigmented, most being solid black and about 5% moorit. Almost 97 percent of the rams have horns. The horns can be massive, forming complete spirals up to 95 cm (38 in) around the curve. In 1981, 305 of these feral sheep were placed in a specially created scientific reserve on Pitt Island. Some have been exported to the mainland of New Zealand where they are maintained by rare breeds enthusiasts.
Recent Blog Posts
  • Who is your Vet? Demystifying the facts!

    People are creatures of habit and we repeatedly do things that we have done in the past.  We drive the same route to and from work, we shop at the same stores, we buy gas at the same gas stations.  We are often on auto-pilot and don’t give a lot of thought to why we […]

  • Meet Dr. Katz at Petmapz!

    My name is Dr. Katz Piller and most of my clients refer to me as “Dr. Katz”. I have had meaningful relationships with various animals since I was a toddler and after losing one horse to severe colic and another to cancer. I made a commitment to studying veterinary medicine and to helping alleviate the […]

  • Why you should have your pet spayed or neutered

    The decision to spay or neuter your pet is an important one for pet owners. But it can be the single best decision you make for their long-term welfare. A USA Today (May 7, 2013) article cites that pets who live in the states with the highest rates of spaying/neutering also live the longest. According […]