In New Zealand there is less and less interest from young people in becoming a sheep farmer - that is not helped by the poor returns NZ sheep farmers are receiving at the moment. Needless to say that farmers are becoming disgruntled and much of their anger is being directed at the meat companies they sell their lambs to. There young men are leaving rural areas for the cities and farmers are having to advertise nationwide, offering good salaries and perks. Whereas two years ago sheepfarmers...

High exchange rates, an oversupply of stock and a $15 drop in lamb prices - it is hard to find a cheerful sheep farmer these days. The latest Meat & Wool New Zealand forecasts for 2006-07 predict beef and sheep farmers will earn nearly 7 per cent less this year than previously expected because of the strong dollar. Since the start of this season, lamb prices have fallen $15 a head, and meat exporters are warning prices could fall further once the lucrative European Easter markets are...

Far from the one million plus counted in 1954, nevertheless, a modest comeback as farmers try to diversify in the aftermath of the tobacco settlement and buyout. Her 160 ewes are lambing, some with twins, others with just one lamb. According to agriculture statistics, New Zealand has the highest consumption of lamb, at nearly 40 pounds a person per year. Meyer says she doesn't expect a lot of farmers to rush into the sheep business because it takes long hours, every day, during lambing...

And that, paradoxically, is part of the problem for the lamb industry. Industry sources cite many reasons for this, including the lack of a concerted marketing effort (there's no lamb equivalent to "Pork: The Other White Meat" or "Beef: It's What's for Dinner"), the squeamishness of some people about consuming such a young animal, and the simple fact that many Americans don't like lamb's robust flavor profile. Industry sources cite many reasons for this, including the lack of a concerted...

However, in the same breath, sheep farmers pushed for a free-market system for live exports of small livestock. Previously, only one sheep could be exported for every six sheep slaughtered locally. The increase in the export quota announced last week means that only three sheep need to be slaughtered locally to export one animal on the hoof to South African abattoirs. Farmers say they are losing millions of dollars because of the regulation, since they spend more money on fodder for sheep...