New Zealand sheep meat output slips 3pc in the past year

Sheep on Nithdale Station on New Zealand’s North IslandNEW Zealand’s sheep meat production was down 3 percent to 274,200 in the 12 months to July from a smaller ewe and lamb slaughter.Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board red meat analyst Hannah Clarke said 2pc fewer lambs and 3pc less mutton was processed and carcase weights have been slightly lighter on average.From January to July (inclusive) New Zealand exported 249,000 tonnes of fresh and frozen sheep meat, 8pc (21,600 tonnes) less than the same period a year ago. This has been largely driven by lower shipments to China, marginally offset by increases to the EU (plus the UK) and several Middle Eastern and Asian countries, Ms Clarke said.The total number of sheep in New Zealand was largely unchanged from a year ago, based on the latest data from Beef + Lamb New Zealand, she said.As of 30 June, total flock numbers were up 0.2pc to 25.8 million. But the breeding ewe flock recorded a 1.4pc contraction to 16.1 million, ...