date:Aug 14, 2014
Dry conditions in the northern North Island and continued land use change in the South Island saw New Zealands sheep numbers decrease 3.2 per cent over the 2013-14 season, while beef cattle numbers increased 1.6 per cent.
Beef + Lamb New Zealands (B+LNZ) Economic Service carries out a stock number survey annually. Its latest survey shows sheep numbers dropped to 29.8 million in the year to 30 June 2014.
B+LNZ Economic Service Chief Economist Andrew Burtt said strong mutton prices, driven by ri