New Zealand echoes Irish trends in suckler numbers and calf rearers

Beef and Lamb New Zealand's stock number survey has reported a decrease in the number of suckler cow numbers and farmers involved in calf rearing in New Zealand, with a 2.8% drop in total beef cattle numbers between June 30, 2023, and June 30, 2024. The largest decrease was in the Marlborough-Canterbury region, with drought being a contributing factor. Breeding cows and heifers mated also saw a decrease, leading to an expected decrease in the number of beef breed animals calving in NZ for spring 2024. This decline in calf rearers in NZ and Ireland is attributed to tight profitability margins, with concerns about the impact on the processing market for older bulls.

Suckler cow numbers and the number of farmers involved in calf rearing in New Zealand (NZ) are both in decline, according to a stock number survey by beef and lamb New Zealand. The beef cattle overview section of the report provides an assessment of the national beef cattle herd in NZ between June 30, 2023 and June 30, 2024. The report notes that total beef cattle numbers in this time decreased by 2.8%, with the largest decrease in total beef cattle numbers estimated for the Marlborough-Canterbury region, which is down 10.7%. The impact of drought reducing feed levels was attributing as a factor in this reduction. Breeding (beef) cows and heifers mated decreased by 2.7% on average for NZ to June 30, 2024 which equates to around 26,000 fewer head mated, according to the report. The number of beef breed animals calving in NZ for spring 2024 (autumn in the northern hemisphere) “is expected to decrease 2.1% to an estimated 817,000 head”, according to the report. The table below ...