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Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming in New Zealand - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Matthew Reeves Matthew Reeves Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: March 2024 ANZSIC A0144NZ

Revenue

$5.2bn

2024-25

$5.2bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

8,678

Businesses

6,233

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming in New Zealand industry analysis

Sheep-beef cattle farmers have suffered from declining sheep meat production, deteriorating demand for wool and plummeting wool prices over recent years. Nonetheless, greater beef and veal production; and higher lamb, sheep and beef cattle prices have constrained revenue declines. Revenue is expected to edge downwards at an average annual rate of 0.5% over the five years through 2023-24, to $5.2 billion.

Trends and Insights

  • Wool sales have fallen and prices have plummeted. Demand from China, a key market, deteriorated amid extended lockdowns across the country during the pandemic.
  • Wool sales have sunk over recent years. This is mainly due to demand disruptions caused by pandemic lockdowns and a global economic downturn. Longer term consumer trends favouring synthetic fibres have also weighed on sales.
  • Manawatu-Whanganui is a major agricultural area of New Zealand. It has the downstream logistics and agricultural services to support a large number of sheep-beef cattle farms.
  • Sheep-beef cattle farmers compete with each other on quality. Many farmers focus on specific breeds or crossbreeds, and carefully choose feed types to improve quality.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 0.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $5.2bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Wool exports have suffered from pandemic restrictions in China and poor global consumer conditions

  • Wool is a heavily export-oriented sector, with exports responsible for around 75% of revenue in the Wool Scouring industry.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming in New Zealand
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Environmental and ethical concerns are set to constrain output

  • A ban on live animal exports by sea came into effect in April 2023. With exports by air representing a less cost-effective option, livestock exports will remain a minimal part of sheep-beef cattle farming.

Biggest companies in the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming in New Zealand

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Lone Star Farms Limited
4.9

To view the market share and analysis for all 1 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming in New Zealand
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Beef cattle, Sheep and Wool. Beef cattle is the largest segment of the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming in New Zealand.

Trends and Insights

The national flock size is on the wane, but demand for sheep meat is climbing

  • Lamb is the most popular type of sheep meat. The segment also includes mutton and hogget, which are distinguished by the age of the sheep. Sheep can also be sold for breeding purposes.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Industry farmers primarily breed, farm, graze and sell sheep and beef cattle.

What's included in this industry?

Beef cattleSheepWool

Companies

Lone Star Farms Limited

Purchase this report to view all 1 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

HOGGETTURN-OFF RATECARCASS CONDEMNATION

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 0144 - Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming in New Zealand

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Wool sales have fallen and prices have plummeted. Demand from China, a key market, deteriorated amid extended lockdowns across the country during the pandemic.

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Wool sales have sunk over recent years. This is mainly due to demand disruptions caused by pandemic lockdowns and a global economic downturn. Longer term consumer trends favo...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Manawatu-Whanganui is a major agricultural area of New Zealand. It has the downstream logistics and agricultural services to support a large number of sheep-beef cattle farms...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Sheep-beef cattle farmers compete with each other on quality. Many farmers focus on specific breeds or crossbreeds, and carefully choose feed types to improve quality.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

No major companies operate in the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming industry. Most companies are small and family-run farms that do not have the scale to reach a significant level of...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Lone Star Farms Limited's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Lone Star Farms Limited, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Livestock exports by sea have been banned following changes to animal welfare regulations in 2021. The new law came into effect at the end of April 2023.

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Global supply shortages caused feed and fertiliser costs to soar for sheep and beef farming. While fertiliser prices have since edged downwards, dry conditions on the east co...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming industry in New Zealand in 2024?

The market size of the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming industry in New Zealand is $5.2bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming in New Zealand industry in 2024?

There are 6,233 businesses in the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming industry in New Zealand, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.2 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming industry in New Zealand grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming industry in New Zealand has been declining at a CAGR of 0.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming industry in New Zealand over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming industry in New Zealand is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming market in New Zealand?

The biggest company operating in the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming market in New Zealand is Lone Star Farms Limited

What does the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming in New Zealand include?

Beef cattle and Sheep are part of the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming in New Zealand?

The company holding the most market share in New Zealand is Lone Star Farms Limited.

How competitive is the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming industry in New Zealand?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming industry in New Zealand.

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Competitors

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Methodology

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Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in New Zealand include:

  • Statistics New Zealand
  • New Zealand Company Register
  • Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

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