Concetti Chiave
- New Zealand's South Island is home to about 50 million sheep, managed with the help of specialized sheep dogs.
- Shepherds typically use 'Eye' dogs for rounding up sheep and 'Huntaway' dogs for managing large flocks.
- New Zealand has a long history of exporting sheep meat, starting with the first shipment to England in 1882.
- The initial meat export faced challenges, including a refrigeration machine that caused a fire but ultimately preserved the meat.
- Since Britain's entry into the European Common Market in 1973, New Zealand faces increased difficulty selling sheep and dairy products to Britain.
The big sheep farm
New Zealand is sometimes called the world’s biggest sheep farm. Only one million people live on New Zealand’s South Island, but it has about 50 million sheep. Every shepherd controls about six sheep dogs. There may be up to thirty dogs on one farm. ‘Eye’ dogs round up loose sheep. Huntaway’ dogs work with large flocks of sheep. New Zealand has been exporting sheep meat — mutton and lamb — since the late nineteenth century. In those days, transporting meat such long distances wasn’t easy. The first ship containing meat for England left New Zealand in 1882. It had a refrigeration machine to keep the meat cold. Unfortunately, sparks from the machine set the ship’s sails on fire. The crew put out the flames. After that, the machine worked perfectly, but it almost froze the captain and his crew to death.
Modern business challenges
In 1973 Britain joined the European Common Market and started buying European products instead of Commonwealth products. Today it is more difficult for New Zealand to sell its sheep and dairy products to Britain.
Domande da interrogazione
- Why is New Zealand referred to as the world's biggest sheep farm?
- How did New Zealand overcome early challenges in exporting sheep meat?
- What modern challenges does New Zealand face in exporting its sheep and dairy products?
New Zealand is called the world's biggest sheep farm because its South Island, with only one million people, is home to about 50 million sheep, highlighting the country's significant sheep farming industry.
New Zealand began exporting sheep meat in the late nineteenth century, with the first shipment in 1882 using a refrigeration machine to keep the meat cold. Despite initial challenges, such as a fire caused by the machine, the crew managed to control the situation, allowing the export process to continue successfully.
Since Britain joined the European Common Market in 1973, New Zealand has faced difficulties in selling its sheep and dairy products to Britain, as Britain began purchasing more European products instead of those from the Commonwealth.
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