ANNUAL SHEEP RETURNS

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27634, 15 April 1955, Page 14

ANNUAL SHEEP RETURNS

N.Z. FLOCKS SHOW RECORD GROWTH

INCREASE IN NUMBER OF FARMERS

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 14. Eighteen thousand six hundred and sixty-three sheepowners had flocks totalling 21392,145 head in the North Island at the end of June, 1954, and 17319 sheepowners had 16,718,809 sheep in the South Island, according to the annual sheep returns, tabled in the House of Representatives today by the Minister of Agriculture (Mr K. J. Holyoake). The Dominion total of 38,010,954 represented an increase of 1,818,019 sheep during the year—a record. The number of breeding ewe 5—24,850,530 (North Island 13,529,687, South Island 11,320,843) was also a record, and represented an increase of 1,069,154 during the year. The total number of sheepowners—--36.209 (35,423 in the previous year) was a further record. Counties in New Zealand with the largest sheep populations were Southland (3,199,331), Hawke’s Bay (1,616,169), Rangitikei (1,564,478), and Ashburton (1,456,268). The district sheep population figures were:—North Auckland, 1,423319; South Auckland, 4,201,665; Gisborne, 2,182,483; Hawke’s Bay, 4,797,514; Taranaki, 1,128,004; Wellington, 7,559360; Marlborough, 1,107,598; Nelson, 433,678; Westland, 90,233; Canterbury 6,448,438; Otago, 4,429,441; Southland 4309,431.