A very old short-wooled breed of British sheep from the downlands of Wiltshire, England. It was adapted to travelling far on the rolling to steep downlands to find grazing, and enduring summers in the open without shelter. It was selected for larger size in the eighteenth century. It is a horned breed, but a polled derivative was bred in Australia by crossing with the poll dorset, and this is by far the predominant lineage of Wiltshire in New Zealand (other Australian crosses used border leicester and polled merino as well). The horned breed was introduced from Australia in 1974, but today is present only in small numbers.Recently, improved lineages from a wide genetic base have been introduced. Polled wiltshires were introduced from Australia in 1986. All the Australian wiltshires derive from a very small number of animals (two rams and fifteen ewes), making them fairly 'tight' genetically. There was a surge of interest in wiltshires when wool prices fell through the floor, but interest dropped off again when prices recovered. From the commercial standpoint, this will probably always be the wiltshires fate.

From the low-input home orchard standpoint, they are easily the breed of choice, albeit they are rather large.

The sheep are large, have black hooves and muzzle, fine white hair on the face and legs, and very lustrous fine wool on the back and upper legs. The wool on the belly and crutch remains extremely short. In late spring the long wool is shed, with the degree of shed being from 25% to 100%, depending on the genotype of the animal (and to an extent, its age). The summer coat is the extremely short somewhat hairy undercoat. The wool outer coat slowly regrows from late summer onward, with staple length varying according to the individual genotype from 25mm to 50mm or so.

The well-muscled sheep produce markedly lean meat.

Wiltshires are seasonal breeders, with estrus triggered by the shortening days of autumn, unlike dorper, which are able to breed year round. While wiltshires are known for ability to actively forage for feed, the ability to have twins is influenced by good nutritional status. Younger ewes, and poorly fed ewes usually have singletons. Older ewes that are well fed almost always have multiple births, usually twins.

Wiltshires have a good temperament, and are easy lambing due to markedly wide hips, lighter shoulders, and somewhat wedge shaped faces. Ewes have large udders, and produce very good quantities of milk. They are renowned as excellent mothers, with mis-mothering almost non-existant.

There is one breeder, (Mangapiri Downs Organic Stud Farm) who has run wiltshires without worm medicines for 13 years. From the home orchardist low-input sheep point of view this may be particularly valuable breed line. The caveat is that worm species and challenge in the region of adaptation may be different to worm species and challenge in climatically different regions of New Zealand.

As with the dorper, when crossing wiltshire with other breeds, substantial shedding can be acheived at the third generation. One of the most easy lambing, fast growing, and least fat crosses is with merino. However, this cross is likely to be unsuitable for the upper north island, although it is definitely worth a try.

Breeders

Southland: Mangapiri Downs Organic Stud Farm http://www.organicstud.co.nz/
Ph/Fax Gow Family Farm 03 225 528. Email tim@organicmeats.com

Marton: Ardo Farm Phone 06 327 7359 email ardofarm@xtra.co.nz

Auckland: Arvidson Wiltshires 09 296 0597 email daviarvi@aks.quik.co.nz

Auckland: Itasca Wiltshires 09 292 4622 email Itasca@xtra.co.nz

Auckland: Whare Ra Wiltshires 09 405 1101 email: m-r.tearle@xtra.co.nz

Auckland: Wilingram Wiltshires 09 411 8986 email brian-ingram@xtra.co.nz

Breed Society:
New Zealand Wiltshire Sheep Breeders' Association
C/- John Morrison, RD 2, Marton
Phone 06 327 7359