Beef Cattle Numbers Predicted to Fall
NEW ZEALAND - With lamb numbers falling as more sheep farmers convert to dairying, meat companies are facing the prospect of their beef supplies taking a hit as well, with a significant drop in the number of calves that will be raised for beef.
17 September 2007
1 minute read
| Dairy demand taking a slice out of the beef industry. |
That's due to a surge in demand for dairy cows to stock newly-converted dairy farms. Prices are double those of a year ago.
Farmers are opting to rear heifer calves for future milking cows instead of bull calves for the beef trade.
As a result , a lot more young bull calves are being sent straight to the works to process for the veal trade.
AFFCO meat company's livestock manager, Athol Murray, predicts that's going to put a serious dent in beef cattle supplies in two years. He says the supply of bull beef is going to be reduced by up to 150,000 animals in a couple of years.
Source: Radio New Zealand
