Mutton schedule falls to floor level

Press, 8 April 1978, Page 3

Mutton schedule falls to floor level

Lamb meat and mutton prices have been reduced again.

After a further 2c per kilogram reduction for five grades of sheepmeat, values are now back to minimum price levels uiid cannot fall further. For most grades prices have slipped 5.8 c since early March. The demand for ewe mutton is describee, as poor and the storage position is becoming tight.

“I think that the companies are being a little overcautious as I think that ewe mutton will be sold,” said the chairman of the Meat Board (Mr C. Hilgendorf) last evening.

For all export grades of lamb, except the YLs, prices have been reduced another 1c per kilogram. This is attributed to a decline in the exchange rate with Britain and also an easing in the

value of prime light-weight lamb.

All skin prices have also been reduced because of a slight easing in wool values. For woolly lamb skins the drop is from 2c to 8c a head, for shorn lamb skins from 1c to 3c, and for sheep skins from 7c to 17c.

The basis of payments for bull beef has been adjusted to give a higher return for heavier animals, which are cheaper to process.

Increases in killing charges could come into force the week after next. The Alliance Freezing Company (Southland), Ltd, was given permission to increase its charges from last Monday, but until late this week had still not applied them. It is believed to be the only South Island company’ to receive approval to raise its rates ahead of the statutory waiting times. When charges are raised,

price schedules can be expected to fall further. The new meat prices, effective from Monday, are: LAMB P: PL, 8 to 12.5 kg, 70c per kg; PM, 13 to 16 kg, 67c; PH. 16.5 to 25.5 kg, 60c. Y: YL, 8 Ito 12.5 kg, 72.5 c; YM, 13 to 116 kg, 71.5 c; YH, 16.5 to 22.5 kg, 160 c. O: OL. 8 to 12.5 kg, 65.5 c; IOM. 13 to 16 kg, 62.5 c. A: A, 8 'to 12.5 kg, 59c. F: F, 8 to 25.5 I kg, 42.9 c. MUTTON I MLI, up to 22 kg. 30c; ML2, 122.5 to 26 kg,-28c; MHI. 26.5 to ;30 kg. 26c; MH2, 30.5 to 36 kg, 113 c; MX, up to 26 kg, 30c; MM, I all weights, 21c; MF, all weights, 5.5 c; MPI, sc; MP2. 4c. Woolly lamb skins will be worth from 248 c for a skin with 0.5 kg of wool to 503 c for a skin with 2kg of wool, and shorn lamb skins from 188 c for a skin with 0.2 kg of wool to 417 c for one with 1.5 kg of wool. The new prices for sheep skins vary from 217 c for a skin with 10.2 kg of wool to 521 c for one (with 2kg of wool.

The new prices for bull beef are: Up to 160 kg, 55.6 c per- kg; 161 to 210 kg, 65.6 c: 211 to 260 kg, 67.6 e; 261 to 300 kg, 73.6 c; 301 to 340 kg, 75.6 c; and over 340 kg, 79.6 c.