Changes between 30 June 2003 and 30 June 2004:
Year ended December 2003:
The national sheep flock was recorded at 39.3 million at 30 June 2004 (39.6 million at the same time last year). South Island sheep numbers fell by 3 percent to 20.5 million, while North Island numbers increased by 2 percent to 18.7 million.
The Canterbury region recorded the biggest percentage drop, down 6 percent to 7.5 million. The Hawke's Bay region had the largest increase in sheep numbers, up by 383,000 to 4.3 million. The Manawatu-Wanganui region recorded the biggest drop in numbers in the North Island, down by 253,000 to 6.3 million.
During the 12 months ended 30 June 2004, 31.9 million lambs were tailed. Lamb numbers in both the North and South Islands dropped by 4 percent, to 14.5 million and 17.4 million, respectively.
The number of breeding ewes 2-tooth and over put to ram at 30 June 2004 decreased by 1 percent nationally to 26.7 million. The number in the North Island increased by 2 percent to 12.4 million, while numbers in the South Island fell by 4 percent to 14.3 million. The number of ewe hoggets put to ram increased in both the North and South Islands.
The east coast regions of the South Island from Marlborough to Southland experienced dry conditions at the start of 2004. Lower North Island regions experienced floods during February 2004, although summer feed supply was reported to be plentiful in Hawke's Bay as a result of good weather conditions.
Dairy cattle numbered 5.2 million at 30 June 2004, compared with 5.1 million a year earlier. Numbers in the South Island increased by 4 percent to 1.4 million; North Island numbers remained at 3.8 million.
Almost three-quarters of NZ's dairy cattle are in the North Island. Waikato is the largest dairying region, with one-third (1.7 million) of NZ's dairy cattle. The next largest region, Taranaki, with 0.7 million cattle, increased by 7 percent from 30 June 2003. Canterbury, the third largest region nationally, and the largest in the South Island, increased by 8 percent to reach 0.6 million.
New Zealand's beef cattle numbers at 30 June 2004 were recorded at 4.4 million, a decrease of 4 percent on the previous year. Almost three-quarters of all beef cattle are in the North Island. The Manawatu-Wanganui region, with 644,000, recorded the largest decrease, down by 8 percent on the previous year. Numbers in the Waikato region went down by 6 percent to 651,000. Only two North Island regions increased: Hawke's Bay was up 7 percent to 613,000, and Taranaki increased by 2 percent.
New Zealand's total deer numbers were recorded at 1.8 million on 30 June 2004. Two-thirds (1.1 million) of NZ's deer are in the South Island. The major regions are Canterbury, Southland and Otago, with 453,000, 393,000 and 206,000, respectively.
During the year ended 31 December 2003, 16,900 hectares of new area were planted in exotic forest. This was an 11 percent decrease on the 19,000 hectares planted during the previous year. The area replanted in exotic forest decreased by 7 percent to 40,100 hectares. Some survey respondents have reported that forestry land is not being replanted in exotic timber, but is being converted to farming and other uses.
Exotic timber harvested during the year totalled 21,766,600 cubic metres. The North Island produced 16,859,700 cubic metres, which is over three-quarters of NZ's exotic timber harvest.
Urea application increased by 14 percent to 398,800 tonnes during the year ended 30 June 2004. The largest increase in the use of urea was in the Canterbury and Waikato regions, which were up 25 percent to 94,900 tonnes and 16 percent to 95,000 tonnes, respectively. Much of the increase in the Waikato region is due to increased usage on dairy farms. In Canterbury, there was increased use in dairying, as well as by sheep and beef cattle farmers.
Application of diammonium phosphate (DAP) increased by 24 percent, to 260,200 tonnes, during the year. South Island applications increased by 30 percent (81,700 tonnes to 106,000 tonnes).
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Tel: +64 4 894 0100
Fax: +64 4 894 0720
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