Maximising triplet survival
High quality feed, reduced stocking rates and shelter will all help enhance triplet lamb survival and ultimately benefit the bottom line.
New Zealand sheep now tally just 29.8 million – a number not seen since during the Second World War.
Statistics New Zealand figures released earlier this month for the year ended June 2014 show sheep numbers at their lowest since 1943, down almost a million on 2013.
“The number of sheep fell by 3% from 2013,” agriculture statistics manager Neil Kelly said. “The last time the sheep number was below 30 million was back in 1943.”
Canterbury had the sharpest fall, with 255,000 fewer sheep than the year before. Manawatu-Wanganui and Otago are now the largest sheep farming areas, each running 5.3 million.
Meanwhile, dairy cattle numbers rose by about 3% last year, due mainly to increases in numbers in the South Island, says Statistics NZ.
Southland dairy cattle numbers boomed, up 14% on 2013 figures.
But sheep numbers still easily outstripped dairy: with just under 7 million dairy cattle counted at the end of June last year, there were at least four times as many sheep.
Third-year student Cady Burns has won the Waikato Regional Council Prize in Water Science for 2024.
The Rural Change programme, providing free private mental health professional sessions to the rural industry, is set to continue its next chapter within Rural Support Trust from 1 July 2024.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand chief executive Sam McIvor will step down in July.
A new report shows farm employers across the dairy, sheep and beef, and arable sectors have continued to invest strongly in one of their greatest assets – their staff.
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
OPINION: The new government has clearly signalled big cuts across the public service.
OPINION: Your canine crusader is not surprised by the recent news that New Zealand plant-based ‘fake meat’ business is in…