Wairere Nudie Auction
Date & Time
25th February 2026 at 1 pm
Location
Masterton Solway Showgrounds
Inventory
100 purebred Nudie
& 50 Brazilian ram lambs
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Get in Touch
Call us or fill in the form to register your interest.
Do you want a change in lifestyle?
With each ewe earning you $180-$300 from sheep meat, and wool earning you a net $5 per ewe, how are you going to breed your future flock?
What do Wairere Nudies offer you?
After three years of transplanting 1,600 Easycare embryos and using around 3,000 semen straws from five flocks in the UK and Ireland, Wairere has 800 purebred and Brazilian (3/4 Nudie) ram lambs available for purchase this year.
Comments from Wairere Nudie Clients
“The Nudie cross lambs have a better survival rate. We scanned 246% out of Coopworth ewes, docked 212%. Lambs weaned at 30kg versus 27kg out of the main flock.”
“Bearings are a rarity. Ewe survival is high.”
Nudie cross lambs grow faster. Hybrid vigour helps, it’s a free lunch. “We are averaging 19-20kg on our works lambs from a consistent 160% lambing over the past three years.’”
“Out of 5,000 lambs at weaning we dagged only 20-30.”
“78% of the Brazilian ewe hoggets didn’t need shearing. Transition to no shear sheep is fast.”
Greater tolerance to internal parasites has been measured by FEC comparison and the Carla test.
“Nudie structure is good. We culled only 6 out of 800 two tooth ewes.”
“In a comparison of ram lambs we measured Streakers (half Nudie) against Wairere Romney ram lambs from weaning in December to slaughter from January to March.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How much more profitable are Nudie sheep compared to traditional wool breeds?
With sheep meat earning between $180 and $300 per ewe while wool often returns a net of only $5, the financial shift is significant. Wairere Nudies allow you to focus on the high-value meat market without the overhead of wool maintenance.
How quickly can I transition my flock to a non-shearing system?
The transition is remarkably fast; data shows that 78% of Brazilian ewe hoggets (which are 3/4 Nudie) did not require shearing. This allows farmers to move toward a “no-shear” lifestyle in just a few seasons.
Do Nudie cross lambs grow as well as traditional breeds like Romneys?
Actually, they often grow faster. In a measured comparison from weaning to slaughter, “Streaker” (half Nudie) lambs achieved an Average Daily Gain (ADG) of 236 compared to 209 for Wairere Romney lambs. This “hybrid vigour” provides a performance boost that has been described as a “free lunch” for the farmer.
What are the maintenance requirements for Nudie sheep regarding dagging and bearings?
Wairere Nudies are bred for low-input farming. One client reported that out of 5,000 lambs at weaning, they only had to dag 20–30. Additionally, ewe survival is high and bearings are considered a rarity in the breed.
Are these sheep hardy enough for New Zealand conditions?
Yes. Wairere Nudies have shown greater tolerance to internal parasites, a trait measured through FEC (Faecal Egg Count) comparisons and the Carla test. They also maintain excellent structural integrity, with one client culling only 6 out of 800 two-tooth ewes for structure.
What meat quality can I expect from the carcass?
Trial results show superior meat yield and quality. Streaker lambs averaged a Carcass Weight (CWT) of 21.3kg and an Intramuscular Fat (IMF) score of 2.15, outperforming Romney averages of 19.9kg and 1.86 respectively.
Can I use a Wairere Nudie cross to almost eliminate dagging, shear once per year, but retain a fleece on my flock?
Yes you can. Example: James Bruce in the Wairarapa put Tufguy Streaker rams over his Wairere Romney ewes, with progeny 1/4 Nudie 1/8 Texel, 5/8 Romney. Here is a video of his two tooth ewes in January this year.
Tom Bull, largest prime lamb ram breeder in Australia:
“In 34 years I’ve never seen such a move in Australia away from sheep, and into cattle and cropping. And there is a big move here to non shearing sheep.”
The world supply of sheep meat is reducing fast.
Want more information?
Andrew Herriott
Wairere
027 240 0231
Pierre Syben
Wairere
027 625 9977
Chris McBride
Carrfields
027 565 1145
Carey Ashwell
Carrfields
021 433 274