Arapawa Sheep
The Arapawa Sheep is a breed of feral sheep found primarily on Arapaoa Island (formerly called Arapawa Island) in the Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand. The New Zealand Rare Breeds Conservation Society classifies it as "rare". This breed is raised primarily for wool. There have been many theories about the origin of the sheep. It was once thought that they were most likely descendants of Merinos introduced from Australia in 1867. Other theories were that they are from the Middle East introduced by whalers who were based on the island from the 1820s, or even that they were brought by a Spanish galleon as early as the 16th century. Genetic research has shown that their closest relative is the Florida Gulf Coast Native sheep. This supports the idea that they were brought by whalers in the early 19th century.
| Life Span | 10-12 years |
| Weight | 45-160 kg |
What to Know Before Buying an Arapawa Sheep
Finding a responsible Arapawa Sheep breeder requires more than browsing classified ads or responding to social media posts. The USDA requires any breeder who sells sheeps commercially — especially those selling online or through third-party dealers — to hold a federal license and submit to regular inspections. A legitimate breeder should be willing to provide their USDA license number, invite you to visit their facility, and show you where the animals are housed and socialized.
Before committing to a purchase, ask the breeder for veterinary health records, vaccination documentation, and any genetic testing results relevant to the Arapawa Sheep. Reputable breeders will also ask you questions in return — about your living situation, experience with animals, and ability to provide long-term care. A breeder who asks no questions and is eager to ship an animal immediately is a significant red flag.
Use the search tool below to check whether any USDA-licensed facilities breeding Arapawa Sheeps appear in our database. If they do, review their inspection history carefully. Look for patterns of violations, pay attention to severity levels, and compare their compliance grade with other breeders in the same state. This due diligence takes minutes and can save you from supporting a facility with documented animal welfare problems.
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Search our database of USDA-licensed facilities to find inspected breeders and check their compliance history.
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