Tuesday, 13 May 2025 11:25

Cows down

Written by  Milking It
Cows down

OPINION: It's not happening as fast as the greenies would like - they actually want all livestock other than Muscovy ducks and Tibetan Llamas to disappear entirely - but it is happening.

According to Stats NZ, livestock numbers have continued to fall over the last 10 years, while area planted in fruit increases.

The total number of dairy cattle fell by 861,000 (13%) over this period to 5.8 million.

The total number of sheep was 23.6 million at June 2024, a fall of 6.2 million (21%) compared with 10 years ago, according to figures released by Stats NZ last week.

Bucking the trend of falling livestock numbers, however, is beef cattle. There were 3.7 million beef cattle in 2024, similar to the total in 2014. Deer had the highest percentage fall of all livestock types, down 26% in the 10-year period.

More like this

What's going on?

What's going on?

OPINION: On the 2nd of May, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced that the 'government remains on track to ban full farm-to-forestry conversion'.

Less hot air

Less hot air

OPINION: Farmers won't get any credit for this from the daily media, so Milking It is giving the bouquets where they’re due.

Dollars go offshore

OPINION: The Advertising Standards Authority’s 2024 report revealed that not only is social media rotting our brains, it is also taking a growing chunk of New Zealand’s ad revenue offshore.

No to pines

OPINION: Forests planted for carbon credits are permanently locking up NZ’s landscapes, and could land us with more carbon costs, says the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE).

Cut with care

OPINION: NZ farming is built on hard work, but also on innovation, a lot of which came about thanks to a focused scientific effort over many decades.

Popular Reads

back to top

Featured

Top ag scientist to advise PM

Top ag scientist to advise PM

A highly experienced agricultural scientist with specialist knowledge of the dairy sector is the Prime Minister's new Chief Science Advisor.

National

Machinery & Products

Gongs for best field days site

Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive…

» Latest Print Issues Online

dairynewscover
ruralnewscover
winegrowercover

Visit archives

Milking It

What's going on?

OPINION: On the 2nd of May, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced that the 'government remains on track to ban full…

Cows down

OPINION: It's not happening as fast as the greenies would like - they actually want all livestock other than Muscovy…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter