The annual stock number survey, conducted by B+LNZ’s Economic Service, estimates there are now 3.8 million beef cattle and 27.4 million sheep in New Zealand.
Otago and Southland were the fastest growing regions in beef cattle, up by 12.9 and 12.0 percent respectively, due to high pasture growth and feed availability encouraging farmers to keep cattle on hand over balance date.
The growth in the number of total sheep was more subdued, with little variability by region.
B+LNZ Economic Service Chief Economist Andrew Burtt says a drier summer and late arrival of rain in autumn reduced feed availability during the middle of the season in the North Island.
“Not all livestock types increased, as fewer ewes and cows were mated after a season of strong prices encouraged farmers to send more livestock to processors, reducing the number of breeding ewes by 1.1 percent and the number of breeding cows by 1.4 percent. Ewes were in poorer condition than in 2018 due to less feed being available and dry conditions through summer.”
The total number of hoggets increased 3.4 percent, largely due to strong increases in Northland-Waikato-Bay of Plenty (+9.2 percent) and the South Island (+8.1 percent).
Download full Stock Number Survey as at 30 June 2019 (PDF, 4.39MB)
For more information, please contact: Beef + Lamb New Zealand Economic Service Chief Economist, Andrew Burtt on 027 652 9543 or Senior Communications Advisor Gwynn Compton on 027 838 6353
