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yesterday

New Zealand's Sheep Population Shrinks as Humans Close the Gap

Latest statistics show 4.5 sheep per person, a steep decline from the 22:1 ratio in 1982, as farmers shift toward dairy and carbon forestry.

FILE - Farmer Ross Turner feeds his sheep hay in his snow covered paddocks on the outskirts of Christchurch, New Zealand, July 12, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark Baker,File)
FILE - Farmer Ross Turner feeds his sheep hay in his snow covered paddocks on the outskirts of Christchurch, New Zealand, July 12, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark Baker, File)

Overview

  • New Zealand's sheep population has dropped to 23.6 million, with a human population of 5.3 million, resulting in a 4.5:1 sheep-to-person ratio.
  • The national flock has declined significantly from its 1982 peak of over 70 million sheep, driven by falling wool prices and global shifts to synthetic fibers.
  • Farmers are increasingly converting farmland to pine forestry for carbon offsets or transitioning to dairy production, which now dominates New Zealand's agricultural exports.
  • The government has introduced measures to slow the decline, including limits on farmland conversion to forestry and procurement guidelines promoting wool use in public buildings.
  • Australia, facing similar trends, has a shrinking flock with about three sheep per person, reflecting a broader regional shift in agricultural practices.