National Lamb Day, celebrated on 15 February, commemorates a pivotal moment in New Zealand’s agricultural history. This day marks the departure of the ship Dunedin from Port Chalmers in 1882, carrying the first shipment of New Zealand frozen lamb to London. This landmark event marked the start of what has grown into our successful food and fibre industry.
It’s a day to celebrate the journey of lamb from New Zealand farms to the global market, as well as the farmers who make it all possible. Over the past two years, National Lamb Day has gained visibility through social media platforms, raising awareness of its significance.
Alistar Eggers, a sheep farmer from Ngātīmoti, commented, “We don’t celebrate National Lamb Day on the farm, to be honest, I only started hearing about it in recent years, so it tends to fly under the radar here. That said, it’s an important part of the industry’s history and great to have it noted.”
Blair Anglesey, a sheep farmer from the Sherry River added, “I’ve only recently learned about National Lamb Day. While we don’t currently celebrate it on the farm, it’s certainly something we should celebrate, NZ lamb is a great product. It’s 100% grass-fed, a great source of protein, and packed with high levels of iron and B12.”
National Lamb Day serves as a reminder of New Zealand’s agricultural achievements and the quality of its lamb exports, the spirit of kiwi innovation and excellence in our farming practices.
