Lamb prices rise

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33804, 29 March 1975, Page 2

Lamb prices rise

Prices to farmers for all prime, fair average quality and Omega grade lambs will go up by another 2c per kilogram on Monday. There is no change for other lambs.

This means that this month exporters have pushed prices for prime and Omega lambs up by 4c per kilogram and for fair average quality types by 3c. Prices for a number of categories of lambs are now at their highest level so far this season.

But prices for woolly and shorn lamb skins have been reduced by 5c because of an easing in pelt values. However prices for sheepskins have been advanced by 10c to 15c, according to wool pull, reflecting a slight firming both in wool and sheep pelt values.

Before the addition of the

$1 supplement, the standard prime 13.6 kilogram or 301 b lamb with a skin with 1.4 kilograms of wool is now worth $6.92. The chairman of the Meat Board (Mr C. Hilgendorf) said that he had expected a further rise in lamb meat prices. “It is a very satisfactory situation. I am satisfied with the rise and believe that farmers are getting a fair price.” A meat industry spokesman said that the improvement was a reflection of the market trend in the UnitedKingdom.

The new prices for lamb meat are:—

Prime.—B to 12.5 kilograms, 43c per kg; 13 to 16kg, 41c; 16.5 to 19kg, 36.8 c; 19.5 to 25.5 kg, 33.4 c. Fair Average Quality.—B to 12.5 kg, 43c; 13 to 16kg. 42c; 16.5 to 25.5 kg. 32c. __ Omega.—B to 12.5 kg, 39.2; 13 to 16kg, 37.6 c. Alpha.—3s.9c. Export Cutter. —No. 1: up to 12.5 kg 28.3 c. No. 1: over 13kg 32.2 c. No. 2: all weights. 20c. Over-fats.—2sc.

Unexportable .—2oc. Kams.—3c. Woolly lamb skin prices will now range from 86c for a skin with 0.45 kilograms of wool, to 165 c for one with two kilograms of wool; shorn lamb skins from 70c for one with 0.20 kilograms of wool to 100 c for a skin with one kilogram of wool; and sheepskins from 59c for a skin with 0.20 kilograms of wool to 179 c for a skin with a pull of two kiljgrams of wool.

Pilots’ ballot.—A final count will be made next week of a ballot among agricultural pilots to decide whether their association will seek affiliation with the Federation of Labour. The secretary Mr J. A. Hegarty) said yesterday that the membership seemed evenly split on the issue, but a 75 per cent majority was necessary for an affiliation move.—(P.A.)

Rodney candidate. — An Auckland lawyer, Dr J. Prebble, has been selected as Labour candidate for Rodney. -(P-A)