Large Sheep Farms: Stations, Ranches, and Spreads

Extensive sheep-grazing operations go by different names depending on the region:

• Sheep Station – Standard term in Australia and New Zealand for vast pastoral leases (often >10,000 ha) running tens of thousands of Merinos for fine wool. Iconic in the Outback/High Country.
• Sheep Ranch – Common in the western United States (Wyoming, Montana, Texas, California) and Canada. Often mixed with cattle; private land + federal grazing allotments (BLM/Forest Service).
• Estancia – Used in South America (Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Patagonia) for large ranches, often with sheep (Corriedale, Merino) and cattle.
• Sheep Farm / Hill Farm – UK/Ireland; smaller, enclosed fields, often on uplands (fells, moors). "Hill farm" implies rough grazing.
• Spread – Colloquial US term for any large ranch.

Scale & Operation

Stations/ranches can run 20,000–100,000+ sheep. Management relies on helicopters, motorbikes, dogs, contract shearers, and extensive fencing/water infrastructure. Wool, meat (lamb/mutton), and lanolin are products. Environmental stewardship (grazing rotation, invasive species control) is increasingly central.