A tough winter ahead for meat processing plants as livestock numbers continue to decline.  

Latest figures from Stats NZ show a 21% drop in sheep numbers over the past 10 years – a total decline of 6.2 million sheep since 2014.  

The number of dairy cattle also fell 13% over the same period.  

Federated Farmers Meat and Wool Chair Toby Williams told Ryan Bridge keeping livestock processing plants open, profitable, and running efficiently is a significant challenge.  

He says big plants are struggling to get numbers of livestock through, with close to million less lambs to process this year than last. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

A tough winter ahead for meat processing plants as livestock numbers continue to decline. &nbsp;
Latest figures from Stats NZ show a 21% drop in sheep numbers over the past 10 years – a total decline of 6.2 million sheep since 2014. &nbsp;
The number of dairy cattle also fell 13% over the same period. &nbsp;
Federated Farmers Meat and Wool Chair Toby Williams told Ryan Bridge keeping livestock processing plants open, profitable, and running efficiently is a significant challenge. &nbsp;
He says big plants are struggling to get numbers of livestock through, with close to million less lambs to process this year than last.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Toby Williams: Federated Farmers Meat and Wool Chair on the decline in livestock numbers

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/41f51e33-eb0a-48c1-b4b3-b2d40176fa7a/transcript