New Zealand - Stock Sale Yards - Possibly Stortford Lodge Sale Yards, corner of Maraekakaho Road and Southampton Street, Hastings Sheep farming - Established by the 1850s - Has played an important role in New Zealand’s economic history - For several decades wool accounted for more than a third of New Zealand’s exports by value. - Following the first export shipment of frozen meat in 1882 (see 15 February), sheep meat became a significant source of revenue as New Zealand forged a role as Britain’s farmyard. - For many, sheep symbolise New Zealand as a nation. - The sheep population peaked at just over 70 million in 1982. - By 2018 numbers had dropped to 27 million, after profits declined compared to other types of farming, notably dairying. (Reference: read more at https://nzhistory.govt.nz/first-sheep-released-in-new-zealand) Image source: Stock Sale Yards https://knowledgebank.org.nz/still_image/stock-sale-yards Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.