ZQ sheep are farmed in a manner where they can forage as they please. Well-fed sheep with good nutrition are better able to cope with natural stress, like extreme weather. ZQ growers manage their farms to ensure their sheep always have access to clean water and adequate nutrition.

ZQ sheep are free-range. Free to roam in vast open pastures, with typically more than an acre of space each, though they prefer to roam with their mates. With so much land available and a hands-off approach, they’re free to act naturally and display normal patterns of behavior.

Over the years, sheep have evolved in environments with extremes of heat and cold, largely on account of their fleece, which means they’re able to survive and thrive in varying conditions. However, ZQ growers go a step further to protect sheep from distress and ensure they have adequate shade and shelter available at all times.

ZQ growers must handle and manage their sheep to avoid any unnecessary stress and pain. That’s why mulesing – a painful on-farm procedure traditionally used to prevent flystrike disease - is NOT permitted on ZQ farms. Farm facilities are also maintained to ensure they don’t pose a risk of injury. Safety first, always.

To minimize stress or discomfort, ZQ growers regularly monitor their flock to prevent disease, illness and to rapidly diagnose animal health issues. A lot of ZQ growers come from sheep farming families, where stockmanship knowledge is developed and passed on over generations of farming.