Lamb returns hold up despite drought

By PHILIPPA STEVENSON

Sheep farmers have boosted lamb production, despite drought and falling ewe numbers, to match last year's export returns of $2.5 billion.

The Meat and Wool Economic Service said the number of lambs born per ewe this spring set a record of 119 per cent, defying the impact of last summer's drought.

Executive director Rob Davison said all regions except Marlborough-Canterbury achieved record lambing percentages.

The overall improvement continued the trend of increasing sheep productivity evident through the 1990s, reflecting new technology and better management, as well as good weather.

An estimated 36 million lambs were tailed, up just 0.9 per cent on last spring despite breeding-ewe numbers dropping by 1.6 per cent because of the drought.

It was likely that 25 million lambs would be available for slaughter and export, and the rest would be kept to rebuild flocks, Mr Davison said.

Lamb prices should be similar to last season's because of solid demand in most markets and an exchange rate that continued to favour exporters.

Total lamb export receipts should remain near last season's $2.5 billion, he predicted.

Scanning results showed that conception rates were down following the drought, but favourable weather during lambing meant a high survival rate.

Mr Davison said there was a significant increase in lambs born to ewe hoggets in most regions. Nearly 4 per cent of the North Island lamb crop, and 2.5 per cent of the national figure, came from hoggets.

The number of North Island lambs tailed was up by around a million, or 6.8 per cent, on last year to the highest total since 1997-98. But the South Island lamb crop fell by nearly 700,000, or 3.2 per cent.

Marlborough-Canterbury was the only region to have fewer lambs (minus 9.2 per cent), reflecting the severity of the summer and autumn drought that brought a 5.3 per cent decrease in the ewe flock.

Northland-Waikato-Bay of Plenty recorded the largest lambing increase, of 14 per cent, to reach a 114.8 per cent region record.

North Island eastern regions and Taranaki-Manawatu both increased lambing rates by 5.3 per cent, also regional records.

In the South Island, lambing percentages for Otago and Southland were up 2.8 and 1.8 per cent, respectively.