Works lifts lamb estimate

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32775, 27 November 1971, Page 2

Works lifts lamb estimate

The Canterbury Frozen Meat Company has raised, quite substantially, its estimated market realisation for lamb-meat for the period of its new lamb pool, which starts on Monday and continues until December 25.

The increases range from 0.6 c per lb to 3.9 c per lb, compared with the estimates for the last pool period which ends today. These estimates are the basis of the initial payments to producers who elect to sell on the pool system. The biggest increase is for

light-weight Omega lamb. The figure for 20 to 281 b fair average quality lamb has been increased by 3.8 c and for prime 20 to 281 b lamb by 3c.

The estimates for the last pool period were, of course, mainly from I.lc to 2.4 c below those for the first pool of the season. Most of the lambs killed in the new pool period will arrive in Britain between midJanuary and the middle of February. Discussing the more optimistic outlook being taken by the company the manager of the meat trading division of C.F.M. (Mr G. A. Northeote) said yesterday that it was a reflection of the

improved market realisations in Britain, which were related to supply and demand. With the diversification target for lamb exports to markets other than Britain set at up to 22 per cent this season, Mr Northeote said that the shortening of supplies to the United Kingdom through greater diversification, if that could be achieved, should assist in maintaining a higher price structure.

The new estimated market’ realisations, which take into account the additional British levy on imported lamb meat which is due to come into force at the beginning of the new year, are:

Prime: 20 to 281 b, 12c per lb; 29 to 361 b, 10c; 37 to 421 b, 7.50 c; 431 b and over, 6.70 c.

Fair average quality: 20 to 281 b, 11.60 c; 29 to 361 b, 9.60 c; 371 b and over, 7.30 c. Omega: 20 to 281 b, 10.60 c; 29 to 361 b, 8.30 c. Alpha: 10.30 c. The company’s clients still have the option of selling their lambs on the Meat Board schedule if they desire. A further adjustment was made to the lamb schedule yesterday—another 5c a head on skin payments, related to a rise in pelt values. Skin payments now range from 94c for a lamb with a wool pull of 0.45 kilos, to 117 c for a pull of .130 kilos.