Strong wool eyes China
China looks set to play a key role in helping the New Zealand wool sector shift away from trading as a commodity supplier.
Woodford, professor of farm management and agribusiness, expects lambing percentages will be right down next season as a result of the drought.
“We’ve known for long time three things are really important to lambing percentage: one is genetics and there’s no doubt we have better genetics; second is the live weight of ewes at mating; third is whether the ewes are on a rising plain of nutrition.
“So if the ewe is gaining live weight at the time she’s mated then she’s much more likely to give a multiple ovulation. I can’t put numbers on it at this stage…. I would expect the lambing percentage in August-September to be down quite a lot. Having said that, the rams aren’t there yet and a lot depends on what happens over the next month.”
Looking at our sheepmeat markets, Woodford says if wasn’t for China, New Zealand would be in a mess. The Kiwi dollar’s strength against the Euro and the pound sterling is impacting farms, depressing returns to New Zealand farmers from European markets.
“[But the] sheepmeat market in China has been growing incredibly rapidly, more due to good luck than good management on our part; it’s not demand we’ve created, it’s a demand the Chinese have created.”
Woodford says China by volume is now our biggest market for lamb – a market for cuts once a bit difficult to sell.
