Beef Boom Pushes up NZ Cattle Numbers, While Sheep Flock Continues to Shrink - New Survey

Explained: How likely is this latest beef boom to continue?

A global boom for beef is driving up cattle numbers - but how likely can it keep up the momentum?

Beef boom pushes up NZ cattle numbers, while sheep flock continues to shrink - new survey

The number of farmed sheep in New Zealand continues to decline, while a global boom for beef is driving up cattle numbers.

Beef cattle numbers rise as sheep flock shrinks

Reading Time: 2 minutes Farmers are carrying more beef cattle, at the expense of sheep. Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s latest stock number survey, for the year to June 30 2026, shows that in the past year beef cattle numbers have risen 3.3% to 3.96 million and sheep numbers fell 2% to 22.78 million. Beef + Lamb NZ chair Kate Acland said forecasts are for a relatively steady lamb crop. Increased beef cattle numbers reflect strong returns, feed availab…