McIvor to step down in July
Beef + Lamb New Zealand chief executive Sam McIvor will step down in July.
Sheep and beef numbers for year ending June 2012 are up, says the Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) Economic Service.
Sheep numbers increased 2.6% and beef cattle numbers increased 1%.
This partly makes up for the 4.4% decline in sheep and 2.6% decline in beef cattle the year before.
B+LNZ's annual stock number survey, which establishes the productive base of livestock for 2012-13, shows that while sheep numbers were up 2.6% most of this increase will be stock carried over for slaughter in July-September.
B+LNZ Economic Service executive director, Rob Davison says breeding ewe numbers at 20.61 million are almost static on the previous June when ewe numbers fell 6% to a low of 20.49 million.
Strong mutton prices earlier in the year encouraged a high slaughter of cull ewes for the second year in a row. The offset to this was a high retention of ewe hoggets (+10%) last July which by 30 June 2012 were mature first time in lamb ewes.
"Ewe condition is good across the country. Scanning results for most regions show in-lamb ewes are carrying more multiple lambs with the general comment that scanning percentages are up 5 to 10% on last year.
"All we need now is an excellent spring to ensure high survival of the lambs born."
Beef cattle numbers increased 1% to 3.88 million and partly reversed the 2.6% decline for the previous year. North Island beef cattle numbers increased 3.6% with increases in both the beef cow herd and weaner cattle numbers.
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An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Waikato herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts is the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
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