View source for Perendale

{{Short description|New Zealand breed of sheep}}
{{use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox sheep breed
| name          = Perendale
| image         = Sir Geoffrey Peren and Perendales, 1978.jpg
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| image_caption = Sir [[Geoffrey Peren]] with perendale sheep, 1978
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| country       = New Zealand
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| type          = 
| use           = {{ubl|meat|wool}}
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The '''Perendale''' is a breed of [[domestic sheep|sheep]] developed in [[New Zealand]] by Massey Agricultural College (now [[Massey University]]) for use in steep hill situations. <ref name="Sheep101">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.sheep101.info/breedsO-P.html#Perendale
|work=Sheep Breeds - O-P
|title=Perendale
|publisher=Sheep101.info
|accessdate=2009-04-28}}</ref> The breed is named after Sir [[Geoffrey Peren]], and it achieves its aims by being the offspring of [[New Zealand Romney|Romney]] ewes and [[Cheviot sheep|Cheviot]] rams with sturdy legs. It is raised primarily for [[Lamb and mutton|meat]].<ref name="DADIS">
{{cite web
|url=http://dad.fao.org/
|title=Perendale/Australia
|work=Breed Data Sheet
|publisher=Domestic Animal Diversity Information System
|accessdate=2009-09-04}}</ref>

==History==
Since the early 1980s, the flock numbers of this sheep has increased, mainly because hill-country farming has increased and they are more adaptable to the terrain.  
Developed from the Cheviot and Romney, the Perendale is a dual-purpose sheep producing wool fibres of {{convert|29 to 35|μm}} diameter with a {{convert|125|mm|in}} staple length. The Perendale is characteristically a high fertility animal, and has great potential to produce a prime ewe lamb when crossed with the Merino. As a purebred, its hardiness makes it ideally suited to colder, high-rainfall areas. The Perendale is easy to care for; the ewes have little trouble lambing and are good mothers.<ref name="OKState">{{cite web
|url=http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/perendale/index.htm
|work=Breeds of Livestock
|title=Perendale
|publisher=[[Oklahoma State University]], Dept. of Animal Science
|accessdate=2009-04-28
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091224195750/http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/sheep/perendale/index.htm
|archive-date=2009-12-24
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>

==Characteristics==
The mature body weight of a ram is {{convert|220|to|260|lb|abbr=on}} and a ewe is {{convert|120|to|150|lb|abbr=on}}.  The average fiber diameter is 29 to 35 [[Wool measurement|microns]].<ref name="AWEX w">''Preparation of Australian Wool Clips'', Code of Practice 2010-2012, Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX), 2010</ref> The USDA wool grade is 44's to 54's.<ref name="SheepUSA">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.sheepusa.org/index.phtml?page=site/text&nav_id=7e2dca4692470c454312419b3034ea43
|work=Long Wool Breeds
|title=Perendale
|publisher=American Sheep Industry Association
|accessdate=2009-04-28}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.perendalenz.com/ Perendale Sheep Society of New Zealand]

{{Sheep breeds of Australia and New Zealand}}

[[Category:Sheep breeds]]
[[Category:Sheep breeds originating in New Zealand]]

{{sheep-stub}}