MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Uruguayan flock forecasted to rebound in 2005.

Uruguayan lamb production and wool clip is forecasted to rebound in 2005 after having reached its lowest in 2004 according to forecasts from the country's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries and the Uruguayan Wool Secretariat.

Since the eighties when Uruguay had a flock of 25 million sheep the number has been consistently dropping with the 2003 census showing 9,798,000 and the 2004, still unreleased, estimated in just above nine million.

However improved wool and lamb prices together with credits to increase the number of ewes should help revert the tendency next year when an additional 300,000 lambs and 3,5 million kilos of wool are expected.

According to Minister Martin Aguirrezabala credits have been extended to at least 400 farmers with the intent of retaining 300,000 ewes for 2005.

In the eighties just before the decline of the wool industry Uruguayan pastures were dedicated 57% to cattle and 43% to sheep. Currently the ratio is 77 and 23%.

Sheep in Uruguay have always bred in the poorer soils of the country but lately as lamb production has become more attractive the tendency has been to move the flock to better pastures with forestry (mainly eucalyptus) moving into the cheaper soils.