Substantial Rise In Lamb Prices

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31549, 11 December 1967, Page 1

Substantial Rise In Lamb Prices

Lamb producers will receive another substantial increase in their returns with effect from today.

Rises in both meat prices and skin payments mean that a prime 301 b lamb is now worth 37c a head more than last week.

The return for this lamb is now more than 25 per cent higher than in the week beginning November 13, which was before devaluation.

A retrospective payment of 1c a pound has been made on all lambs killed between the beginning of the export killing season and November 18.

The new prices are a reflection of the possible impact of the British ban on meat imports from South America, and now also South Africa, as a precaution against the entry of foot-and-mouth disease. BETTER OUTLOOK An industry spokesman says that the rise in the price for all grades and weights of lamb meat of o.Bc a pound could be attributed to the stronger market now expected for these lambs, which would be sold about February or March, than was thought likely a week ago. At the same time the separate payments made for pelts and wool have also been raised by 10c to 17c a head compared with last week. This is both a reflection of a rising market for lamb pelts and also a firmer trend for wool. Canterbury pelts are now bringing about $l2 a

dozen, compared with as little as $4.50 a dozen last season. Since the week beginning November 13, skin payments to farmers have risen by 36c to 44c a head, according to wool pull. As a result of the latest schedule change, lamb meat is now worth from I.Bc to 2.2 c a pound more to the producer than the schedule rates actually operating in the week November 13 to 18, although a retrospective payment of 1c a pound has since been made. The prime 301 b lamb pulling 21b of wool was then worth $4.19; this week this same lamb will be worth $5.26, a rise of $1.07, or more than 25 per cent. The future prospects for lamb, on which the amended schedule is based, cannot be related to the decline in prices at Smithfield last week. Lamb prices in Britain had been inflated by the dock strike and it was anticipated that there would be a settlingdown when the dispute ended and increased supplies again reached the market. The future outlook is still uncertain because no-one knows at the present stage how long the ban on imports of meat from South America will last, but should it be prolonged, or even become permanent, then it would be

bound to have a profound effect on the British market Canterbury freezing works were killing again on Saturday morning—the fourth Saturday kill so far this season at most works.