Sheep numbers up on West Coast

Press, 2 November 1984, Page 24

Sheep numbers up on West Coast

Total sheep numbers in the. Buller and Inangahua counties havfe increased dramatically. In the 10-year period from 1973-82 sheep numbers in the Buller County increased by 659 per cent from 9776 to 74,261. In Inangahua County there was a 121 per cent increase with sheep numbers rising from 66,355 to 147,132. The senior livestock officer for the M.A.F. in Westport, Mr Fred King, said the main reason for the increases was the development of land blocks by the Department of Lands, and Survey. “Prior to development there was quite a reduction in sheep numbers in Buller,” Mr King said.

With the high risk of tuberculosis in cattle and the management problems of running cattle, Mr King said sheep were a more attractive alternative and better land utilisation. The senior field officer with the Lands and Survey Department in Westport, Miss Mary Ewing, said sheep were better suited for land which was being developed. She said the plan was to develop the land for dairying with one-person dairy units but at present the wet and unconsolidated land was better suited to sheep. “I think the total sheep numbers at present will be about the maximum we will have,” she said.