Complex sentence: The sheep population touched a peak of 70 million in 1982 but soon there was a sharp decline as the dairy industry overshadowed it; in 1987 the sheep population was only about 39 million; this fall is also attributed to withdrawal of government subsidy to this sector.
Split into simpler sentences: The sheep population touched a peak of 70 million in 1982 but soon there was a sharp decline as the dairy industry overshadowed it. In 1987, the sheep population was only about 39 million; this fall is also attributed to withdrawal of government subsidy to this sector.