The New Zealand Pork Industry
New Zealand has a relatively small pig industry, which focuses on the domestic market. About 45 000 breeding sows are farmed in New Zealand, producing about 700 000 pigs for slaughter each year. Pork production has remained reasonably static in the last ten years, averaging 49 000 tonnes per year. Over much of this period, a strong New Zealand dollar pushed down the price of imported pork, markedly increasing the volume of imports.
The pork industry has already undergone significant restructuring in recent years and more rationalisation is likely. The number of specialist pig farms more than halved between 1990 and 2002 and now totals 360 farms. Fewer farms are producing more pigs and herds over 1000 head now account for 56 percent of New Zealand's total pig population. Canterbury and Waikato are the main regions of production.
The New Zealand pig industry is co-ordinated through the New Zealand Pork Industry Board. The Board is active in the promotion and marketing of New Zealand pork and the "Trim Pork" brand, providing information to producers, funding research and development, developing and promoting quality assurance programmes, and advising government on issues of importance for pork producers.
Environmental and animal welfare practices continue to be a concern for the public. The New Zealand pork industry has responded by forming an Environmental Task Force, developing a Code of Practice for pig farming, and funding research into specific environmental and animal welfare issues.
The New Zealand Poultry Industry
The New Zealand Poultry Industry comprises a poultry meat production sector and an egg production sector. The industry, which is almost entirely focused on the domestic market, has changed significantly over the last 30 years. Thirty years ago, 4.6 million laying hens supplied eggs for 3 million people; now only 3.2 million hens meet the needs of 4.0 million people.
The Industry
Poultry meat production is highly integrated, with three companies supplying 90 percent of chicken meat. These processors own and control most stages of production and distribution including the importing of genetic material, hatcheries, breeding farms, processing plants and feed mills. The company-owned broiler chickens are reared on grow-out farms and contractors are paid per bird for the finishing service.
The Poultry Industry Association of New Zealand (Inc) represents the interests of all the poultry processing and breeding companies and the Egg Producers Federation of New Zealand (Inc) carries out a similar function for members of the egg industry.
Outlook
The demand for poultry meat is expected to continue growing in line with overseas trends. As a result, annual production of poultry meat is projected to grow to around 190 000 tonnes by the year 2008. Genetic improvements made through breeding programmes are continuing to increase feed conversion efficiency in poultry production. Such efficiency gains are expected to continue to underpin producer profitability, and to keep prices stable. Retail prices are therefore projected to remain relatively constant in the foreseeable future.
Contact for Enquiries
MAF Information Services
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526
Wellington, NEW ZEALAND
Fax: +64 4 894 0721
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