Sheep station
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2008-05-07T22:45:02Z
Cgoodwin
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beef, wikilink
[[Image:Sheep eating grass edit02.jpg|thumb|Sheep eating grass in rural Australia]]
[[Image:Poddy-lambs-at-a-sheep-station.JPG|thumb|Poddy lambs (orphaned lambs) drinking milk at a sheep station in rural Australia]]
[[Image:Sheep-Dog-Show.JPG|thumb|[[Border Collie]] sheepdogs mustering sheep in Queensland, Australia]]
A '''sheep station''' is a large farm ([[Station (Australian agriculture)|station]], the equivalent of a [[ranch]]) in [[Australia]] or [[New Zealand]] whose main activity is the raising of [[Domestic sheep|sheep]] for their [[wool]] and [[meat]]. In Australia, sheep stations are usually in the south-east or south-west of the country. In New Zealand the [[Merino]]s are usually in the [[High country (New Zealand)|high country]]. These properties may be thousands of square kilometres in size and run low stocking rates to be able to sustainably provide enough feed and water for the stock.
In Australia, the owner of a sheep station is called a [[Grazier (Australian agriculture)|grazier]]; or formerly, a [[Squatting (pastoral)|squatter]], as in [[Waltzing Matilda]]).
In the Australian context, getting wool from sheep involves annual musters of sheep to be shorn, and the shearing shed is an important part of the station. A station usually also includes a homestead and adjacent sheds, windmills, dams and in many cases a landing strip available for use by the [[Royal Flying Doctor Service]] and other light aircraft. Some of these items have regional variants, usually to deal with climate extremes.
Similarly, where the climate and vegetation allow, especially north of the [[dog fence]], [[cattle station]]s are similar but run beef cattle rather than sheep. Some properties are not exclusively sheep or cattle stations but may have a mix of cattle, sheep, cropping and even goats which makes the owner less vulnerable to changes in wool or beef prices.
[[Shearing shed]]s, also known as woolsheds are found on sheep stations. These structures can remain intact long after sheep shearing ceases.
==Language use==
The term generally used by agricultural and environmental professionals for sheep station forms of landholding is ''[[rangeland]]'', but is not in general use by Australians. The term ''ranch'' is rarely, if ever, used. The term ''sheep run'' was also commonly used during the early settlement period to describe sheep stations operated by [[squatting (pastoral)|squatters]].
For administrative purposes, many stations exist on [[pastoral lease]]s, but in state government jurisdictions they are increasingly known as ''stations''.
The word ''station'' is also a traditional [[Australian English]] term to denote a large and/or important landholding for any agricultural purpose.
The term [[Playing for sheep stations]] is used to denote a large or serious game.
==Books==
Two well-known ninteeth century authors have written about life on a sheep station:
*[[Mary Anne Barker|Lady Barker]] ''Station Life in New Zealand'' and ''Station Amusements in New Zealand''.
*[[Samuel Butler (novelist)|Samuel Butler]] ''A First Year in the Canterbury Settlement'' and his novel ''[[Erewhon]]''.
==See also==
*[[Cattle station]]
*[[Pastoral lease]]
*[[Rangeland]]
*[[Sheep husbandry]]
*[[Sheep shearing]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book |last= Urdang|first=Lawrence |authorlink= |coauthors= |editor=Hanks, Patrick |others=G. a. Wilkes (Aust. cnsltnt) |title=Collins Dictionary of the English Language |origdate= |origyear= |origmonth= |url= |format= |accessdate= |accessyear= |accessmonth= |edition= |series= |date= |year= |month= |publisher= |location= |language= |isbn= |oclc= |doi= |id= |pages= |chapter= |chapterurl= |quote= An extensive coverage of contemporary international and Australian English}}
{{refend}}
==External links==
* [http://www.tobruksheepstation.com.au/programme.html Tobruk Sheep Station] — includes photo of stockman mustering sheep
* [http://library.christchurch.org.nz/Heritage/Photos/Disc14/IMG0067.asp Sheep-dipping on the Orari Gorge Station (photo c1899)]]
[[Category:Agriculture]]
[[Category:Australian culture]]
[[Category:Sheep]]