LAMB PRICE CHANGE

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29068, 3 December 1959, Page 18

LAMB PRICE CHANGE

Lighter Weights Rise A change in the Canterbury export lamb schedule and a reduction in the deficiency payment on lambs mean that from the beginning of this week producers will receive an extra id per Ibfor lambs up to 361 b, but the price for lambs over that weight will be down by per lb. In the new schedule announced last evening the basic price for both prime and second quality lambs up to 361 b has been increased by %d per lb while for other weights there is no alteration, but, as the Meat Export Prices Committee yesterday lowered the deficiency payment for the current week from 2d to lM>d for all grades and weights, there has been a change in the overall pay-out to the farmer in favour of the lighter lambs.

This schedule will not be operated by Thomas Borthwick and Sons (Australasia), Ltd., which is this week paying the same basic schedule as last week with the new deficiency payment of l%d a lb plus, a 2s premium or bonus for every lamb up to 361 b weight. Details of the new rates are (figures being given for the basic price, the deficiency payment and the total overall payment to the farmer):— Prime—

It can be assumed from the alteration in the emphasis of the basic price schedule that operators wish to encourage killing of the lighter-weight lamb which will be more readily saleable on the United Kingdom market.

Base d. Def. Pay. Tot. d. d. Up to 281b .. 15J 14 17 291b to 361b .. 132 14 154 371b to 421b .. in 14 131 124 431b to 501b .. 102 14 Over 501b 91 14 10J Second Quality— Up to 281b .. 14 14 154 291b to 361b .. 122 14 141 Over 361b 111 14 122