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Beef up, sheep down, is the simple message from Beef + Lamb NZ’s latest data on the state of the national sheep flock and beef herd.
The report shows that in the last year beef cattle numbers are up by 2.6% (or 97,000 head) nationwide. Of this total 3.8 million, just over one million are breeding cows or heifers.
The biggest increase in beef numbers was in the South Island – up 4.6% while the North Island was up 1.8%. Most of the increase in beef numbers in the South Island was in Otago and Southland, while the East Coast and Taranaki/Manawatu were the main contributors to the rise in cattle numbers in the North Island.
Despite beef cattle numbers being up, surprisingly the number of breeding cows declined in the last year by 1.4%. But against the national trend there was an increase in Otago. BLNZ predicts calving percentages for the current season will be in line with those of 2018.
In sheep, a minuscule increase of 0.4% in the national flock is due to greater hogget numbers which rose 3.4% to 9.55m. Set against that was a drop of 1.1% in the number of breeding ewes (16.97m) held on farms.
BLNZ says it has been a great season for lambs: the tally is down 570,000 or 2.4% on last season.
The North Island lamb crop is expected to drop by 1.8% and the South Island crop by 3%.
Recent widespread autumn rain will have triggered the germination of subterranean clover seeds, and the resulting seedlings should be allowed to reach the 3–4 trifoliate leaf stage before grazing, says Beef+Lamb NZ.
A Māori-owned agribusiness helping to turn a long-standing animal welfare and waste issue into a high-value protein stream for the dairy and red meat sectors wants more industry support.
The vineyards at Pyramid Farm in Marlborough’s Avon Valley have never been run of the mill, with plantings that follow the natural contours of the land, 250 metres above sea level.
A hub farm in each of Beef + Lamb NZ’s seven regions and more focus groups are being rolled out for the red meat sector this year.
Alliance Group has secured greater access for chilled beef exports to China, following approval for two of its processing plants to supply the market.
On the eve of his departure from Federated Farmers board, Richard McIntyre is thanking farmers for their support and words of encouragement during his stint as a farmer advocate.
A project reducing strains and sprains on farm has won the Innovation category in the New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards 2025.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ), in partnership with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and other sector organisations, has launched a national survey to understand better the impact of facial eczema (FE) on farmers.
One of New Zealand's latest and largest agrivoltaics farm Te Herenga o Te Rā is delivering clean renewable energy while preserving the land's agricultural value for sheep grazing under the modules.
Global food company Nestle’s chair Paul Bulcke will step down at its next annual meeting in April 2026.
Brendan Attrill of Caiseal Trust in Taranaki has been announced as the 2025 National Ambassador for Sustainable Farming and Growing and recipient of the Gordon Stephenson Trophy at the National Sustainability Showcase at in Wellington this evening.
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