The latest Beef + Lamb New Zealand stock number survey has revised the estimated breeding ewe flock as at June 2024 a million lower, from an earlier forecast of 15.34 million to 14.37 milion.
The information is contained in the latest BLNZ livestock survey, which reveals a 4.3% decline in total sheep numbers and 2.8% drop in beef numbers, which is attributed to land use change and drought.
BLNZ insight and communications manager Rowena Hume said the discrepancy is due to the timing of data collection between it and StatsNZ, the time lag between when a farm is sold for forestry and when stock are finally removed, and where those animals actually go.
In some cases it can be more than two years between the sale of land and stock leaving a property.
“The issue is the speed of land use change,” she said.
The impact of drought has been another factor.
BLNZ sources its data from a survey of 500 farms while Stats NZ gets its data six months later, which makes it more current. It also has input from other government departments.
Hume said StatsNZ revised lower earlier forecast sheep numbers, which obliged BLNZ to follow suit.
BLNZ, StatsNZ and the Ministry for Primary Industries are working more closely to get a more accurate picture and better access to data such as forest planting.
Meanwhile, Australia continues to set new lamb processing records.
Meat and Livestock Australia has announced 7.2 million lambs were slaughtered in the three months to June, the highest quarterly kill on record.
The combined sheep and lamb kill was up 16% on the same period last year at 9.9 million, the highest since 1973.
A significant 177,147 tonnes of lamb was processed in the quarter, 19% more than for the same period a year earlier.
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Calls for a national food strategy are growing as the cost of living crisis leaves many unable to afford nutritious food here, despite living in a food producing powerhouse.
Lincoln University’s Professor Alan Renwick says it will take a holistic approach as there are many aspects to consider – health, social development, commerce and agriculture. He says the changing climate will force us to rethink how we produce food and where.
