NZ Sheep numbers

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) recently released its annual Stock Number Survey which provides an assessment of the stock numbers between June 30 2024 and June 30 2025.

The report summarises the results from a survey carried out to estimate the number of sheep and beef cattle on hand at June 30 and provides estimates for the change in livestock numbers four months before provisional figures are available from the Statistics New Zealand Agricultural Production Survey.

The survey shows New Zealand’s total sheep numbers fell modestly by 1%, in contrast to sharp falls in recent years, while beef cattle numbers rose 4.4%.

B+LNZ Chairperson Kate Acland said the survey shows there are reasons for optimism in the sheep and beef sector given recent strong prices, although significant challenges remain.

“We’re seeing rebuilding of stock numbers in several regions after drought and other adverse weather events led to sharper reductions in the last two years. Farmers are getting much better prices and are feeling more confident about shorter-term prospects.”

The decline in total sheep numbers is modest as there were more trading hoggets on hand due to the late season. Total hogget numbers increased 1.7% to an estimated 8.36 million.

Total sheep numbers decreased to 23.36 million (-1.0%) with fewer breeding ewes in most regions of the country largely because of ongoing land-use change and periodic feed shortages. The decrease in breeding ewes is down by 1.9% to 14.28 million and is the indicator to watch for the direction of production.

“Worryingly, however, the number of breeding ewes continues to decline, down 1.9% and the lamb crop is forecast to be 0.6% lower this season – that’s nearly 120,000 head fewer, on top of a 1.2 million reduction in lambs last year. This will only exacerbate already tight supply,” Acland said.

Source: B+LNZ