Too many sheep? No, we’re short- staffed

New Zealand’s most often quoted statistic — the sheep- to- people ratio — has taken another hit.

The country now has fewer than six sheep for each person — down from 1982’ s historic high, when there were over 70 million sheep, or 22 for every person.

The total number of sheep was down by just over 5 per cent between June 2015 and June 2016, Statistics New Zealand reported yesterday.

Provisional figures show the number of sheep in New Zealand fell by 1.5m, down to 27.6m at June 30, 2016.

“Between 2006 and 2016 the number of sheep reduced from just over 40m, a drop of around 30 per cent,” agricultural production statistics manager Stuart Pitts said. The fall is linked to the steady rise in dairying, persistent drought conditions in parts of the country, and a lack of confidence in the outlook for meat exports.

In the year to June 30, 2016 beef cattle and deer numbers also fell, but the number of dairy cattle remained steady at 6.5m.

Federated Farmers Meat and Fibre chair Rick Powdrell said a lot of farmers with suitable land had shifted to dairying because it was a more financially viable option.

A year ago it seemed that sheep numbers were stabilising, but current market conditions meant the national flock could shrink even further. Late last year a survey of the beef and lamb sector found that farmers’ confidence had slipped sharply, reflecting uncertainty in export markets.

Easing wool prices and depressed lamb returns soured the outlook, and Statistics NZ figures showed meat and edible offal exports fell 30 per cent in November compared to the same month last year.