Drought conditions in New Zealand's North Island last season has resulted in fewer lambs and cattle, according to Beef + Lamb (B+LNZ) New Zealand Economic Service. The agency is forecasting a 7.7 percent drop in the lamb crop (a decline of 2 million lambs) to 24.43 million head.
Both beef and sheep numbers declined, 1.3 percent and 1 percent respectively, but lamb production was hardest hit. Lamb exports are forecast at 18.6 million head, down 8.5 percent for 2013-14, while beef exports are forecast at 2.2 million head. a decline of 2.7 percent in 2013-14. Drought conditions impacted ewe condition and mating, according to B+LNZ.
“We’re expecting lambing percentages to be down by up to 20 percentage points in the region’s worst hit by drought in the north,” said Andrew Burtt, chief economist for B+LNZ Economic Service. “The South Island fared better and scanning results were down only a few percentage points – and that’s against last season, which was favorable in the south.”
Overall, sheep numbers declined 1 percent to 30.94 million head by June 30, 2013, compared to 31.26 million a year ago. Breeding ewe numbers also eased 1 percent. Figures for all the islands varied, B+LNZ reported.
“Ewe numbers in the North Island decreased by 2.7 percent to 9.52 million, while South Island ewe numbers were almost static (+0.5 percent) at 10.69 million,” Burtt said. “Hogget numbers reflected a similar pattern – back 1.3 percent overall, but down 3.5 percent in the north and up 1 percent in the south.”
Cattle numbers slipped 1.3 percent to 3.69 million head by June 30, down from 3.73 million in 2012.
Both beef and sheep numbers declined, 1.3 percent and 1 percent respectively, but lamb production was hardest hit. Lamb exports are forecast at 18.6 million head, down 8.5 percent for 2013-14, while beef exports are forecast at 2.2 million head. a decline of 2.7 percent in 2013-14. Drought conditions impacted ewe condition and mating, according to B+LNZ.
“We’re expecting lambing percentages to be down by up to 20 percentage points in the region’s worst hit by drought in the north,” said Andrew Burtt, chief economist for B+LNZ Economic Service. “The South Island fared better and scanning results were down only a few percentage points – and that’s against last season, which was favorable in the south.”
Overall, sheep numbers declined 1 percent to 30.94 million head by June 30, 2013, compared to 31.26 million a year ago. Breeding ewe numbers also eased 1 percent. Figures for all the islands varied, B+LNZ reported.
“Ewe numbers in the North Island decreased by 2.7 percent to 9.52 million, while South Island ewe numbers were almost static (+0.5 percent) at 10.69 million,” Burtt said. “Hogget numbers reflected a similar pattern – back 1.3 percent overall, but down 3.5 percent in the north and up 1 percent in the south.”
Cattle numbers slipped 1.3 percent to 3.69 million head by June 30, down from 3.73 million in 2012.
