Sheep and beef farm types and systems in New Zealand vary widely, according to land type, topography, climate, scale and farmer preference. Mainly situated on hill country in New Zealand, the majority of farms run both sheep and beef cattle, which complement each other in pasture based grazing systems. However, some farms have diversified and run deer or grow arable crops to reduce business risk. The meat, wool and other products derived from this farming sector are worth around NZ$7 billion a year, and account for approximately 20 per cent of New Zealand’s goods exports. Meat and Wool New Zealand Ltd estimates that there are 15 000 commercial sheep and beef cattle farms in New Zealand, most of which are owned and operated by farming families. Animals numbered 39.2 million sheep and 4.4 million beef cattle in June 2005, in effect a count of nine sheep and one beef cow for every person in New Zealand. Productivity within the sheep industry has risen over the past fifteen years, due largely to enhanced breeding mixes and improved lambing percentages. Higher returns for lamb meat relative to beef and deer have also influenced productivity gains. Lamb meat production increased by 15 per cent from 364 000 tonnes in 1989-90 (July–June) to 427 000 tonnes in 2004-05, despite a 35 per cent fall in sheep numbers. Similarly, beef production increased by 35 per cent between 1984-85 and 2004-05, despite a 3.6 per cent decline in stock levels and a 26 per cent increase in beef slaughter. The first Sheep were landed in New Zealand by Captain Cook in 1773. The Sheep population grew to 70.3 million in 1982 but has now declined to 43.1 million due to declining profits compared to other types of farming. That represents 12 sheep for every person in New Zealand There are 36,000 flocks of Sheep with an average flock size of 1400. The main breed farmed in New Zealand are Romney, an English breed. They are largely dual purpose wool/meat animals and their wool is predominantly strong. New Zealand is the world's largest producer of crossbred (stong wool) contributing 25% of the world's total. This is two and a half times as much as contributed by China, the next most significant producer of strong wool. This type of wool is used mainly in interior textiles such as carpets, upholstery, furnishings, bedding, and rugs. It is also used for handknitting yarn and blankets. New Zealand is a world leader in agricultural research and advisory services. Pastoral agriculture is practiced throughout New Zealand with beef cattle predominating in the Far North, dairying in Waikato and Taranaki, and Sheep farming with cattle in the hills and in the south of the North Island. In the South Island sheep farming is the main form of pastoral agriculture with a sprinkling of beef cattle farmed in the high and hill country and wetter flat areas and some dairying on the flat land of both coasts. Livestock are rarely housed, but feeding of small quantities of supplements such as hay and silage can occur, particularly in winter. Grass growth is seasonal, largely dependent on location and climatic fluctuations but normally occurs for between 8-12 months of the year. Stock are grazed in paddocks, often with moveable electric fencing around the farm. Lambing and calving are carefully managed to take full advantage of spring grass growth. Grasslands have been developed to the extent that the best sheep farms can carry up to 25 sheep per hectare throughout the year.
With a large population of sheep, New Zealand has become heavily polluted. Scientists in New Zealand are working to reduce the threat posed by one of the country's principle causes of global warming - flatulent sheep. Methane - produced by sheep and cows breaking wind - is the second most important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide.Scientists in New Zealand, where 43% of greenhouse gases come from this sourceThe gas is produced by microbes in the animals' stomach and tests on sheep have so far shown that they could live without the microbes. Lambs born and raised in a sterile environment, without the microbes, have grown heathily . Now scientists have to find a way of safely removing the microbes from farmed sheep. As well as lowering greenhouse gases, researchers think removing the microbes could improve the performance of the animals. The methane produced is a loss of energy that could be directed into producing milk, wool or meat.
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