rangiatea - Mt. Somers, New Zealand
Perendale
Beltex · Perendale · Cheviot
Rangiatea - Breeding high-performing rams across three elite breeds for over a generation.
Origin and Background
Developed in New Zealand, Bred for Hill Country
The Perendale is one of New Zealand's most successful and enduring sheep breeds. Developed at Massey Agricultural College by Sir Geoffrey Peren during the 1950s, the breed was created by crossing Romney ewes with Border Cheviot rams. The objective was to produce a sheep capable of thriving in New Zealand's demanding hill-country environments while maintaining productivity and profitability.
Named after its founder, the Perendale quickly became a favourite among New Zealand farmers thanks to its adaptability, hardiness and all-round performance. Today it remains one of the country's most widely recognised hill-country breeds.
Key Characteristics
What Sets the Perendale Apart
Developed specifically for New Zealand conditions, exceptionally well suited to hill-country, foothill and lowland farming systems throughout the country.
Highly fertile ewes that consistently achieve strong lambing percentages and reliably rear healthy, fast-growing lambs.
Outstanding maternal instincts, producing attentive mothers with excellent milk production and strong lamb survival rates.
Hardy and resilient sheep capable of performing under challenging seasonal conditions, including cold winters, high rainfall areas and rugged terrain.
Strong feet, sound structure and excellent mobility, allowing efficient grazing and movement across steep and demanding country.
Efficient converters of pasture into both meat and wool production, helping farmers maximise productivity from available feed resources.
A true dual-purpose breed, producing quality prime lambs alongside commercially valuable wool suitable for a range of end uses.
Easy-care sheep requiring minimal intervention, making them an attractive option for practical and efficient farming systems.
Long-lived and reliable breeding animals with a proven reputation for consistency, productivity and adaptability.
Ideal For
Where Perendale Perform Best
Hill-country farming
Commercial lamb production
Dual-purpose meat and wool systems
Farmers seeking low-input, high-performance sheep
Why We Breed Perendale
A Cornerstone of New Zealand Sheep Farming
Perendales are a cornerstone of New Zealand sheep farming. Their balance of fertility, resilience and production makes them exceptionally well suited to the conditions found throughout Canterbury and the South Island. At Rangiatea Farm, we value the breed's reliability, easy-care nature and ability to consistently perform year after year.
Rangiatea
Perendale Genetics
Get in touch with Rangiatea Farm to discuss our Perendale breeding stock and hill-country genetics.