Big firms quit mutton — Meat Bd steps in

Press, 29 April 1978, Page 2

Big firms quit mutton — Meat Bd steps in

Russia and Japan, the main buyers, do not seem to want New Zealand mutton, and the Meat Board has had to step in to market it, taking over from freezing companies.

The assistant general manager of the board (Mr'D. J. C. Freeman) confirmed yesterday that two companies had decided that they could not afford to pay the present schedule of prices to the farmer — which was already at floor, or minimumprice levels. Consequently, said Mr Freeman, the board would take over all their mutton production for the rest of the season and would also market the meat. The board last handled mutton in the 1975-76 season.

The board would not disclose the names of the companies which are giving up their mutton, but they are believed to be Thomas Borthwick and Sons (Australasia), Ltd, and the Gear Meat Company, Ltd.

It is believed that other companies may opt to do likewise.

But in contrast to the dull mutton market, exporters have raised their prices again for all grades of beef.

except the L2 grade, by 2c per kg.

Prices are now from 9c to 13c per kg higher than at this time last year and the price for one of the benchmark grades used in the minimum and trigger price schemes is now only 5Lc a kilogram away from the trigger price point, where a start would be made to skim off some of the proceeds. The trigger price for the M grade cow beef, 140.5 kg and over, is 63c and this grade of beef is now worth 57.5 c. The minimum price for it is 41c.

The further rise in beef prices is a reflection of the strength of the American market.

The only other change in schedule prices is for sheep skins, which have all been reduced by 10c because of an easing in sheep-pelt values.

The new beef prices are.— Ox and Heifer Beef.— Pl: 160.5 kg to 220 kg, 63.5 c per kg for ox and 61.5 c for heifer; 220.5 to 270 kg, 69.5 c and 67.5 c; 270.5 to 340 kg, 71.5 c and 69.5 c; 340.5 kg and over, 72.5 c and 70.5 c. G: 160.5 to 220 kg, 59.5 c and 57.5 c; 220.5 to 270 kg, 65.5 c and 63.5 c; 270.5 to 340 kg, 67.5 c and 65.5 c; 340.5 kg and

over, 68.5 c and 66.5 c. T: all weights, 61.5 c and 59.5 c. E: all weights, 54c and 52c. LI: 160.5 to 220 kg, 61c and 59c: 220.5 to 270 kg, 65c and 63c; 270.5 to 340 kg, 68c and 66c: 340.5 kg and over, 72c and 70c. L2: 160.5 to 220 kg, 54.5 c and 52.5 c; 220.5 to 270 kg, 58.5 c and 56.5 c; 270.5 to 340 kg, 61.5 c and 59.5 c; 340.5 kg and over, 65.5 c and 63.5 c. M: under 140 kg, 49.5 c and 49.5 c; 140.5 kg and over, 57.5 c and 57.5 c. Cow Beef.— Pl: 160.5 to 220 kg, 56c; 200.5 kg and over, 62c. G: 160.5 to 200 kg, 54c; 200.5 kg and over, 60c. T: all weights, 54c. E: all weights, 46.5 c. M: under 140 kg, 49.5 c; 140.5 kg and over 57.5 c.

Bull Beef.— under 160 kg, 59c; 161 to 210 kg, 69c; 211 to 260 kg, 73c; 261 to 300 kg, 78c; 301 to 340 kg, 82c; over 340 kg, 86c.

From Monday, sheep skins will be worth from 203 c for a skin with 0.20 kg of wool to 494 c for one with 2kg of wool. Where the wool-pull is in excess of 2kg, an extra 16c will be paid for every o.lkg of wool over that amount.