An ancient breed of sheep, which doesn’t need shearing, dagging or drenching, is ideal for small blocks, according to Gaylee and Rob Mason of Waimana.

What’s more Wiltshire sheep have a quiet temperament and produce great tasting meat, say the couple who bought their first Wiltshire ram 20 years ago.

Gaylee and Rob Mason of Waimana enjoy the ease of handling, and quiet nature, of their Wiltshire sheep, who in turn enjoy a taste of home-made bread – and windfall fruit.

Good mothers
Gaylee says the ewes are good mothers and frequently have twins. “One even gave birth to quads, but did so in such bad weather, none of the lambs survived.”

The breed lost favour in Britain when wool prices rose and by the early 1900s the Wiltshire was almost extinct. In an attempt to save the breed, the Wiltshire Horn Breed Society was formed in 1923 and today the breed is no longer considered as rare in the UK. Introduced to New Zealand in 1972, there are now a few thousand in the country and a number of stud farms.

The Mason’s flock includes polled and horned sheep, and both rams and ewes can have horns. Because of their quiet nature, the couple say having sheep with horns is not a problem.

Currently the flock is small because most of last season’s lambs, the majority of which were rams, have been sold. “Because we have so few, I think these are the best fed sheep in the district right now,” says Rob.

Their grazing includes the home orchard where they enjoy windfalls, as well as grass, clover and buttercup.

“They also eat leaves that fall off the poplar trees, which I believe they get minerals from. I think, like humans, it’s good for livestock to have variety in their diets.”

Despite being well fed, the meat from the Mason’s sheep is not fatty. “It’s full of flavour and great tasting meat,” says Gaylee. Together with Rob, she has introduced many guests, both Kiwi and international, to Wiltshire mutton and lamb.

Since their children were little, Gaylee and Rob have hosted young international visitors through programmes such as Help Exchange and Willing Workers on Organic Farms.

“With a young family to raise we couldn’t afford to travel but having international visitors stay with us was a way of experiencing other cultures and it was great for our children too,” says Gaylee, who has photo albums full of pictures of guests from around the world.

All have enjoyed the hospitality of the Mason home and the experience of rural New Zealand life in exchange for a few hours’ work each day. It’s become something of a tradition for Japanese visitors to paint their names in large Japanese characters on the wooden wall of an outbuilding.

Young Japanese guests of Gaylee and Rob Mason have a tradition of painting their names in large Japanese characters on the wooden wall of an outbuilding.

Kayaking rivers
Gaylee, whose maiden name is Wardlaw, grew up on the family farm next door. The home where she and Rob now live, and where they brought up their three children Sarra, Sam and Carmel, belonged to her great aunt Abba Hewitt, her grandfather’s sister.

“I haven’t gone far, but I love living here.” Among Gaylee’s favourite activities is kayaking local rivers and camping out in huts along the way.

For many years Rob was a full time possum hunter, supporting his family with the good income earned in the heyday of the fur trade. He still enjoys hunting, shooting and tramping.

Rob and Gaylee are well placed to introduce guests to unique aspects of New Zealand rural life, and to the delights of meals of Wiltshire lamb and mutton.

A goose - called Goose - has adopted one of the Wiltshire sheep in Gaylee and Rob Mason’s flock at Waimana.