A record lambing percentage underpins a lift in lamb numbers, a Beef + Lamb New Zealand lamb crop report says.
Research by B+LNZ's economic service estimated the number of lambs tailed this spring was 23.7 million head, up 1.9% (436,000 head) on the previous spring.
The average ewe lambing percentage was 127.2%, up 4.4 percentage points on last year. The record lambing percentage and more lambs from hoggets offset fewer breeding ewes, B+LNZ's economic service chief economist Andrew Burtt said.
North Island lamb numbers were a major factor behind the overall lift in the lamb crop with growth of 4.9% (551,000 head) to 11.7 million head. The average ewe lambing percentage was 128%.
In the South Island, lamb numbers dropped 1% (115,000 head) to 12 million head. In Southland, fewer ewes were mated, the lambing percentage was slightly lower than the previous year and there were fewer lambs from hoggets.
The average ewe lambing percentage in the South Island was 126.4%, up 0.3 percentage points on last year.
Lamb survival was below average in North Canterbury and Marlborough but better than last year in Otago and Southland.