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.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has informed staff it will cut 391 jobs following a consultation period.
New Zealand farmers are committed to making their businesses more resilient to climate change and are embracing innovation to help them do so.
Atiamuri farmers Paul and Lesley Grey never gave up their dream of owning their own farm – and in 2020, that dream came true.