We are excited to introduce you to the SheepMaster, a shedding sheep breed that is making its mark across New Zealand.
Developed by Neil Garnett, a leading Merino breeder from Western Australia, the SheepMaster is a registered meat sheep that combines genetics from African, Israeli, and European breeds. The breed is designed to deliver fertility, early growth, hardiness, and easy management, all while shedding its coat naturally – removing the need for shearing, crutching, or flystrike treatment.
Hi Dean and Antoinette,
I’ve been meaning to email you both just to say how happy we are with your Rams.
Their progeny are outstanding and everything we were hoping for. As you know we haven’t been in the sheep game for a long time (over 30 years) and were looking for a sheep that would cross graze well with the Deer and Angus Cows on our 500ha steep hill country farm. We have had no foot problems, no dags or flystrike (luckily as we don’t have a woolshed anymore). The Lambs are fantastic, strong from day one and a bonus that 60% come off Mum and straight to the prime sales. We will be back in 2026 for another Ram or 2.
McVicar Family | Riverland Station
We introduced SheepMaster semen from top rams, Monarch, Apollo, and Masterbuild, to improve shedding, growth, and overall flock efficiency.
The breed has delivered superior foot health, strong early lamb growth, and increased twin lamb percentages, all while remaining hardy in our dry Hawke’s Bay environment. SheepMasters also offer aseasonal breeding potential, allowing lambing flexibility and creating a more productive, resilient flock.
At Glenlands Farm, our focus is on easy-care, high-performing SheepMasters. Every animal is recorded and registered with SIL (Sheep Improvement Limited), so all our breeding decisions are data-driven.
We also hold a ram sale each November, where you can see some of our best SheepMasters, but our primary goal is always breeding animals that perform consistently year-round.
To develop a high-performing flock, we’ve used semen from Monarch, Apollo, and Masterbuild in an AI program with Wiltshire ewes. These sires have contributed significantly to the strength, resilience, and productivity of our current flock, particularly for shedding, growth, and fertility.
We focus on six key traits to ensure our SheepMasters are:
This approach allows us to breed sheep that work for the farmer, performing well in modern low-input systems while maintaining strong frames and excellent eating characteristics.
Not all rams do the same job, and understanding the difference has been key for us in building a productive flock.
Maternal rams produce replacement ewe lambs — the backbone of our flock. Key traits include:
Terminal rams complement our maternal genetics, focusing on:
Using both types allows us to maximise the strengths of each, producing balanced, high-performing sheep across the flock.
Shedding (SHED)
Shedding is one of the main reasons we love SheepMasters. Their ability to shed wool naturally each year removes the need for shearing, crutching, and flystrike treatment.
Selecting for reliable shedders makes our flock easier to manage while remaining productive and cost-effective.
Body Condition Score (BCS)
BCS reflects a sheep’s genetic ability to maintain optimal fat and muscle.
Resistance to Worms (FEC)
Parasites are a constant challenge. We select rams with strong worm resistance to reduce the need for chemical drenches and labour.
Number of Lambs Born (NLB)
Reproductive efficiency is a big driver of profitability.
Weaning Weight (WWT)
Strong growth helps lambs reach market weight sooner.
Post-Weaning Growth (LW8)
LW8 measures growth at eight months.
We rely on neXtgen Agri as a critical consultant in our journey to improving flock genetics. They enter all our data into SIL, guide our selection decisions, and provide expertise that underpins our breeding program. Much of the information on breeding values and trait selection is drawn from their guide, Your Guide to Buying the Right Rams, which has been invaluable to us.
You can find out more about their work here: neXtgen Agri
To access a full version of the guide, use the QR Code:
Our aim is to breed SheepMasters that are easy to manage, fast-growing, resilient, and profitable, with strong frames, excellent meat quality, and reliable performance across all the key traits.
We welcome visitors to see our flock firsthand, learn about our breeding philosophy, and discover how practical performance meets productivity at Glenlands Farm.
Spring is well underway at Glenlands Spring has certainly arrived at Glenlands, and so far the season has been kind
Join us at Glenlands Farm for our annual SheepMaster Ram & Ewe Sale – happening Thursday, 27th November 2025. With
Join us at Glenlands Farm on Nov 26th at 11:00 AM for our annual Sheepmaster Stud Ram Sale! Attend in person or bid online via Bidr.co.nz. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore new possibilities in the sheep farming industry!
Please fill out your details to confirm your attendance for the 2026 SheepMaster Ram sale.
