This Month On Your Block

May 2026

Hi everyone,

The last couple of weeks have finally started to feel more like proper autumn farming conditions across Northland and Auckland.

This Week At A Glance

✅ Worm burdens easing significantly
✅ Flystrike has finally come to a stop
🌱 Pasture quality improving quickly
✂️ Final pre-lamb shearing underway
⚠️ Keep an eye on dags with fresh grass
🐑 Sheep looking in excellent condition

🌱 Seasonal Observations

One of the biggest changes lately has been pasture quality improving as temperatures cool down. A lot of the rank summer grasses have slowed right down, and cleaner pasture is starting to come through underneath.

🐑 What I’m Seeing On Lifestyle Farms

I’m currently finishing up the last of the second shears and pre-lamb shearing jobs. Across most lifestyle farms, sheep are looking genuinely healthy and settled.

Worm pressure has also eased. In many cases, if sheep are bright, holding condition, clean around the tail and eating well, I’ve been recommending people hold off drenching rather than drenching automatically.

🏡 What I’m Doing On My Own Farm

Selling the last of my prime lambs
Destocking before winter
Preparing ewes for late July lambing
Final drench decisions on freezer lambs
Trimming hooves on ewes heading into winter

💰 Market Update

I sold the last of my prime lambs through the Wellsford saleyards this week.

This week’s result:
7 prime lambs sold at an average of $226/head +gst.

👀 What Lifestylers Should Focus On This Month

The main thing I’d focus on right now is making sure you're not overstocked going into winter. At the start of May I ensure that the last of my lambs are sold or put in the freezer so I can make the most of the grass growth for the month of May to set me up for my winter grazing rotation. Other than that make sure sheep are tidy and maintaining good condition heading toward winter. Monitor dags and check hooves.

😌 What You Probably Don’t Need To Worry About

Flystrike risk has dropped dramatically, worm burdens are generally much lower, and most sheep are coping very well.

If your sheep are active, chewing cud, holding weight and clean around the tail, you probably don’t need to worry about too much right now.

🐑 Simple Reminder

Healthy sheep are usually pretty easy to spot: bright eyes, good condition, chewing cud, moving freely and clean tails are all good signs.

Don’t overcomplicate it.

Have a great month everyone,

Arlo Gibb
The Sheep Shearer
Founder • Sheep Made Simple

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