Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) has released its annual Stock Number Survey, showing a notable decline in both sheep and cattle numbers as of 30 June 2024. Sheep numbers are estimated to have decreased by 4.3 percent, down to 23.31 million, with breeding ewe numbers falling by 2.9 percent and the lamb crop is anticipated to decrease by 4.8 percent (970,000 head) on last year. Beef cattle numbers are down 2.8 percent overall.