The Black Sheep Animal Sanctuary

THE SANCTUARY COWS

The Black Sheep Animal Sanctuary currently provides a safe, loving home to two cows and two steers (castrated males). Treated with kindness, cows reveal themselves as gentle, peaceful beings who are truly calming to be around.​
​Cows are large animals who need plenty to eat! Our four require more land and feed than all of our other residents combined. We’re grateful to have them living out their long, peaceful lives with us, so unlike the grim alternatives faced by so many others.
The Dairy Industry

Dairy is a massive industry in Aotearoa which unfortunately causes great harm to cows. To produce milk, cows must be pregnant, so they are repeatedly, manually impregnated, and their calves are taken from them soon after birth. Bobby calves — who cannot produce milk and are therefore considered “surplus” — are typically killed within their first two weeks of life, with some slaughtered on the very day they are born. In 2022 alone, 1.8 million bobby calves were slaughtered in Aotearoa.
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For dairy cows, life is also short and harsh. After five to six years of intensive production, their milk yield declines, and they too are sent to slaughter. Cows are also farmed for beef, and in 2020 more than 4.5 million were killed for human consumption in Aotearoa.
Lifelong Care for Cows

Cows can naturally reach 20-25 years old if given the chance. All of the cows at our sanctuary are over 14 years old - none of them would be alive today had they not been rescued. We look forward to continuing to care for them for the rest of their lives, providing them with whatever extra pampering and attention they may require.

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Introducing Iris – Gentle Giant of the Sanctuary

Iris was born into the dairy industry but was thankfully spared the fate of becoming a dairy cow. Along with three other calves, she was rescued at around six months old and arrived at the sanctuary in November 2010 — shy, uncertain, and still very young. Over time she settled in beautifully, forming close bonds with her caregivers and the other cows, and growing into the calm, confident presence she is today.
Now a fully grown adult, Iris is truly a gentle giant with a heart to match. She adores cuddles, ear scratches, and any excuse for human attention. Visitors often comment on her soft nature and expressive eyes; she has a gift for helping people see cows not as commodities, but as the intelligent, affectionate, social individuals they are.
As one of our longest-standing residents, Iris has become a wonderful ambassador for her species — showing everyone she meets that cows can be playful, curious, and deeply loving companions when given the chance to live a peaceful life.
If you feel a connection to Iris and would like to support her ongoing care, you can sponsor her with a small monthly contribution. Your support helps provide her hay, feed, medical care, enrichment, and the peaceful, spacious home she needs to thrive.

How to help cows


Sponsor a cow or herd of cows at the sanctuary
Sponsor an individual cow at the Black Sheep Animal Sanctuary
Sponsor a herd of cows at the Black Sheep Animal Sanctuary
Make a general donation towards care for our cows. Just $12-$15 buys a bail of hay!
Subscribe to our mailing list to find out about working bees where you can meet the Sanctuary cows.
If you don't live in the lower North Island, please get in touch so we can let you know about other sanctuaries who rescue cows
Don't consume dairy goat products!