fbpx
Print this page
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

110,000 visitors!

110,000 visitors!

OPINION: It's official, Fieldays 2025 clocked 110,000 visitors over the four days.

Sticky situation

Sticky situation

OPINION: The Federated Farmers rural advocacy hub at Fieldays has been touted as a great success.

Suitors line up

OPINION: As Fonterra's divestment of its Oceania and global consumer businesses progresses, clear contenders are emerging.

On the go

OPINION: After hopping from one event to another at Fieldays, Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard would have been hoping for a rest.

Misguided campaign

OPINION: Last week, Greenpeace lit up Fonterra's Auckland headquarters with 'messages from the common people' - that the sector is polluting the environment.

Popular Reads

Featured

Horticulture exports hit $8.4B, surge toward $10B by 2029

Horticulture exports hit $8.4B, surge toward $10B by 2029

A brilliant result and great news for growers and regional economies. That's how horticulture sector leaders are describing the news that sector exports for the year ended June 30 will reach $8.4 billion - an increase of 19% on last year and is forecast to hit close to $10 billion in 2029.

National

Machinery & Products

Farming smarter with technology

The National Fieldays is an annual fixture in the farming calendar: it draws in thousands of farmers, contractors, and industry…