Fewer ewe numbers, reduced lambing percentages and fewer hoggets mated has seen the smallest lamb crop in New Zealand since 1953.
Beef and Lamb New Zealand Economic Service has released its annual lamb crop report which estimates 23.9 million lambs were tailed this spring.
There was a 6.7% drop, or 1.7 million fewer lambs tailed than last year.
In the North Island, 11.3 million lambs were tailed, down 0.7 million on last year but similar to 2013's tally, while 12.6 million lambs were tailed in the South Island, a drop of one million.
On a positive note, better-than-average climatic conditions during lambing meant lamb survival was good, the exception being isolated weather events in the North Island, Beef and Lamb New Zealand Economic Service chief economist Andrew Burtt said.
Average carcass weight was expected to increase slightly to 18.3kg, due to lower stocking rates per hectare, but that was not sufficient to offset the reduced number of lambs available.
Total export lamb production was expected to drop by 7.2% while lamb export receipts for 2015-16 were estimated at $2.8billion, down 4.2% on 2014-15.
The number of ewes to the ram in Otago-Southland this year decreased 3.6% to 6.36 million compared with 2014.
Land use change and change in sheep and beef farming practice continued to erode the breeding ewe flock, while drought in inland Otago also contributed to the decrease.
Lambing percentage decreased 1.6 and 3.2 percentage points in Otago and Southland respectively to 120.1% and 133.9%, with variable climate conditions and clover root weevil affecting pasture growth and quality.
The total number of lambs in Otago-Southland decreased 5.9% to 8.33 million, with 3.6% and 8% drops in Otago and Southland respectively.
Tight feed conditions and lower-condition ewes compromised milking ability and affected lamb growth rates on many farms.
The 2014-15 season was the most difficult farming year in memory and had affected farmer confidence, the report said.
