The Country 11/12/25: Kate Acland talks to Jamie Mackay

According to Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s latest report, our national lamb crop for the 2025–26 season is up 1% on last season, driven by stronger ewe performance in most regions. We catch up with the chairwoman of Beef + Lamb NZ to find out more.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
We teased this one on yesterday's show. The national lamb crop, yes,
we talked about it. Nineteen points sixty six million head,
a lift of one percent nearly two hundred thousand more
lambs than last season, which is a good result. Really,
one hundred and thirty one percent lambing across the nation.
That's pretty good, up three point seven percentage points on
last year. And this is off the back of less

(00:22):
reading use, so more lambs, more meat from less used.
To tell us more about it, the chair of Beef
and Lamb New Zealand Kate Ackland than Kate. This is
a pretty good result for the industry.

Speaker 2 (00:33):
Well, hi Janny, look, this is a great result, particularly
to see an increase off the back of quite a
significant decrease in new numbers. So you know, it just
speaks to the really strong productivity gains the sheep seat
that has made over many many years.

Speaker 1 (00:46):
Sheep numbers peaked in this country in the nineteen eighties
when Rob Muldoon had lots of subsidies on and then
Longen Douglas came along and took them all off, and
that was the beginning, at the beginning, should I say
of the decline of sheep numbers, but Kate Backland the productivity,
the lamb productivity per you if you want meat productivity
story is amazing because I think with something like only

(01:09):
ten or twelve percent down on the total kilogram of
lamb meat produced, even though the U numbers have more
than halved.

Speaker 2 (01:17):
Absolutely, and these games are all around farmers investing in
good genetics and looking after they're used, that are breeding, feeding,
used theta. So you know, it's a really good news story.
And I don't think we talk enough about the games
that the sheep sector has made. You know, we could
argue we are the most productive sector in New Zealand.

Speaker 1 (01:37):
With the prospects. Should I say we've spoken to Emma
Higgins of a nine dollars milk price, Gee, we might
see some sheep farm conversions. I say half in jest.
But sheep and beef is certainly looking more positive at
the moment and the short term admittedly than dairy.

Speaker 2 (01:53):
Look, it absolutely is a really positive story, but we
are still seeing pressure on those U numbers. So even
though we've had a really good news story about the
land crop being up, we think there'll still be a
reduction in new numbers this season. We'll know a bit
more as the year goes on, but there's still the
pressure from forestry and the hills, and actually there's a
bit of pressure on some of the dairy conversions happening

(02:16):
where land finishing previously would have happened. So you know,
there's still a lot of pressure on the sheep sector.
But you know, on the whole we're expecting still a
relatively tight supply, high prices globally, there's a shortage of
sheep meats, so things are looking good for sheep farmers well.

Speaker 1 (02:34):
Globally, milk production has come up to meet the increased price.
Are we likely to see that? I mean, for instance Australia,
are they going to rebuild their herd or their flock?
Get it right?

Speaker 2 (02:47):
We're looking at a five point eight percent reduction in
as the export land. So New Zealand and Australia are
out of the game in town. When it comes to
land exports, we account for about eighty percent of world
export lamb, so Australia is well done. New Zealand is
holding steady, so you know that spells good news for farmers.

Speaker 1 (03:09):
Kate Ackland chare of beef and lamb. New Zealand with
us along with your husband David. You farm at Mount
Summers Station in mid Canterbury. How's the season treating you?

Speaker 2 (03:18):
Oh look, we're hanging in there, actually getting just enough rain.
Nice to have the wind finally stop and not much
to complain about this yere.

Speaker 1 (03:29):
Well that's a nice story heading into Christmas. This is
the final time you and I will chat for twenty
twenty five. Thanks for always being readily available, and good
luck to you and the team at Beef and Lamb
New Zealand for a prosperous new farming here.

Speaker 2 (03:43):
Have a great Christmas, Jamie. Thank you.