French sheep production to drop

Sheep production in France is forecast to decline in 2007, for the third year in succession, with output for the year predicted at 123,000 tonnes.

However Bord Bia says that consumption in France in 2007 is also expected to be slightly lower, resulting in little change in the import requirements of lamb meat for the year.

During 2006 a drop of 2% in French sheep supplies was partly offset by an increase of 4% in cull ewe disposals. This decline followed a drop of over 2% in sheep supplies for 2005.

The forecast for 2007 is for a further slight decline in sheep supplies reflecting the fall which has been confirmed in the breeding flock. While it will impact on production for the year — predicted at around 123,000 tonnes — it is consider unlikely to increase opportunity for countries exporting into the French market with the drop offset by a slight drop in consumption of sheepmeat.

New Zealand increased lamb exports in 2006, according to Meat and Wool New Zealand with the EU remaining the principal destination for exports, accounting for 52% of the total exports at 163,800 tonnes. This represented an increase of 6% on 2005 exports. Within the EU markets the largest increase in sales was recorded in supplies to the UK which were 5% higher. Exports to the French market were largely similar to 2005.

New Zealand exported 7% more to the US in 2006, while sales to most of the Asian countries were lower, because of the competition from Australian lamb.

Total sheep supplies to Irish export plants for 2006 were 4% lower than the previous year. The supply of lambs, at almost 2.7m head, was 2.5% lower than 2005, but the largest decline was recorded in the supply of cast ewes/rams which were 12% lower at 455.000 head. Lamb supplies had been stable in 2005 when the cast ewes/rams were down by 10%.