In New Zealand, the number of livestock animals is decreasing against the background of an increase in the number of beef cattle.

According to the Stock Number Survey covering the period from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2026, the number of beef cattle in New Zealand increased by 3.3%, reaching 3.96 million head. At the same time, the total number of sheep decreased by 2%, amounting to 22.78 million individuals. A decline in sheep numbers is observed in all regions of the country.

Chair of Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Kate Acland, noted that the growth in beef cattle numbers is driven by favorable product prices and good feed availability. Despite the overall negative trend in sheep farming, the volume of lambing is projected to remain stable at 19.75 million head, which is only 0.3% lower than previous figures. This result was maintained thanks to the ewe productivity rate of 132.3%.

Changes in the livestock structure reflect long-term trends related to land use. Kate Acland explained that the reduction in herds is influenced by such factors as the shift to dairy production, the development of forestry, the planting of native species, the conversion of land out of production, and urban development, as well as management decisions made by farmers regarding labor resources and economic efficiency.

Regional analysis shows that the number of beef cattle on the North Island increased by 3.2% (to 2.71 million head), with the most significant growth — 6% — recorded in Taranaki-Manawatu. On the South Island, the beef cattle herd grew by 6.7%. At the same time, the sheep sector contracted on both the North Island (by 3%) and the South Island (by 1.1%). The largest decline in sheep numbers was recorded in Northland, Waikato, and the Bay of Plenty — at 6.3%. Across the country, the number of breeding ewes decreased by 1.9%, and young stock (ewe hoggets) by 4.5%.