Goat and sheep stocks have declined, according to the latest figures released by the National Statistics Office. There was a total of 12,172 sheep and a total of 5,828 goats in December 2006, a decline of 16.9 per cent and 7.1 per cent respectively when compared to the same month in 2005, the NSO said.

The decline in sheep stocks ranged from a 37.5 per cent drop in lambs to a six per cent decline in ewes. Furthermore, male sheep and ewe lambs declined by 31 per cent and 23.4 per cent respectively.

The NSO said that on a regional level, the total sheep stock in Malta fell by 14 per cent and that in Gozo and Comino by 22.1 per cent. It said 33.6 per cent of all sheep are found in Gozo and Comino. The south eastern and western districts have 19.9 per cent and 20 per cent respectively.

The decline in goat stocks over the period resulted from a decline in kids (-32.4 per cent), goats mated for the first time (-12.2 per cent) and male goats (-33.8 per cent).

When compared to the survey undertaken in 2005, the goat population in Malta increased by 31 heads (+0.7 per cent), while the goat stock in Gozo and Comino decreased by 475 heads (26.1 per cent).