Local lambing numbers reflect ‘remarkable’ year

GREAT LAMBING: Sheep and beef farmers in this region had a 'great' lambing season, with some lambing percentages up as high as 170 percent, and most farmers in the 140-150 percent range. That compares to the overall national average of 130 percent, which is a near record. File picture

The district's sheep farmers have had a great lambing season this year as part of a lambing result across the country that has been called “remarkable” in a challenging year.

Beef and Lamb New Zealand's Lamb Crop Outlook Report indicates a near record national lambing percentage of 130.3 percent.

“The lambing result across Tairawhiti has placed farm businesses in this region in a strong position as they head into summer,” said AgFirst consultant Peter Andrew.

“I've had reports of lambing percentages up to 170 percent for some of the better farms. “Most good farmers here are in the 140-150 percent mark now, and we need to remember that it was not that many years ago that the district percentage was only around 100 percent.

“That was only just over 20 years ago.”

Mr Andrew said there had been a lot involved in lifting the percentage.

“But feed levels and genetics have been critical components.”

The drought that affected some area of the region quite badly earlier this year impacted on the scanning results for some of the district's ewes, he said.

“However, a kind weather run at lambing meant a great survival and some happy faces at docking.

“Generally farmers here are in a strong position based on good profitability coming out of the 2020 year.

“Many are taking the opportunity of the low interest rates to invest on-farm, into initiatives such as fencing and water supply.”

Beef and Lamb NZ's chief executive Sam McIvor said despite Covid-19-related processing restrictions and a widespread drought in the first half of 2020, sheep and beef farmers achieved a near record national average of 130.3 percent.

The Lamb Crop report measures the lambing performance and forecasts lamb and sheep exports for 2021.

“This season's result was only slightly lower than spring 2019, where 131 percent was achieved,” Mr McIvor said.

“Lamb and sheep export volumes, however, are expected to be more significantly impacted by the follow-on impacts of the drought, due to lower animal weights and the retention of sheep for breeding to rebuild stock numbers.

“Despite the challenges of 2020 including drought and Covid-19, sheep farmers demonstrated why they are the world's best, their resilience and the agility of their farming systems has meant they've performed outstandingly and this should be a real point of pride for our sector,” he said.

B+LNZ's Economic Service estimates the number of lambs tailed in spring this year decreased by 1.5 percent or 357,000 head on the previous spring to 22.9 million head.

Most of the decline occurred in the North Island as a result of drought conditions.

“Although the average lambing percentage is slightly lower, it is worth noting that 2019 was a high performing season,” Mr McIvor said.

The number of lambs tailed in the North Island declined 4.8 percent (546,000 head) to 10.8 million head.

“Restricted feed supplies at mating resulted in lower pregnancy rates when scanning was completed, due to the impact of the autumn drought.”

The eastern regions of the North Island were most severely impacted due to the drought, and the total lamb crop for the regions was down 10 percent across the board.

“From a market perspective early season pricing has been warmly received by farmers,” Mr McIvor said.

“Though there is uncertainty related to international economic conditions, the ongoing impact of Covid-19 and more latterly shipping logistics, the underlying fundamentals remain solid.

“The average export values are expected to be supported by the positive market fundamentals — there's strong underlying demand for meat — and meat from safe and natural farming sources like New Zealand.

“Prices are forecast at similar levels, or slightly above, five-year averages.”