SMITHFIELD MARKET

Press, 22 May 1978, Page 21

SMITHFIELD MARKET

The price for New Zealand [ I lamb an the English market' continued to firm last week; to reach a record average ofp !50p a lb for PM grade: lambs, reports the New Zea-[ [land Meat Producers Board. The retail off-take of New ■Zealand lamb is still strongj and present indications are; that prices will firm further [ this week. Generally, the continuing warm spring weather has not helped the meat trade. Beef in particular was in poor demand at prices similar to the previous week. Home-killed spring lambs increased in price by up ta 3p a lb at wholesale under the influence of strong enquiries from the continent. Home-killed hoggets were in [ [short supply and the major-! [ity of poor quality. These conditions all j jhelped the New Zealand; ; lamb trade. ' Prices for New Zealand [ I lamb sold on Smithfield

were: table “A” Price Yarn P P ! per lb per lb PL .. .. 50.0-51.0 +l.OO 1 PM .. .. 49.0-51.0 +1.50 I PH .. .. 47.5-48.5 + 1.25; (nominal) YL .. .. 50.5-51.0 +1.25 j (nominal) Prices for nominal quantities of New Zealand lamb cuts were: Legs .. 72.0-74.0 n.c. Long loins .. 50.0-54.0 —2.00 Short fores 38.0-40.0 -1.00 MANUFACTURING BEEF: Despite very quiet trading on the United States market last week. New Zealand cow-beef sold gt an average of USIOIc a lb, an increase of 1c previously. Unseasonable cold weather over much of the United States has reduced consumer interest in hamburgers and hot dogs, but domestic beef prices remain very’ firm with good consumer off-take. MUTTON The mutton market in Japan last week has not shown much movement although there have been re-

ports of about 2000-3000 tonnes of New Zealand carcasr mutton sold for June shipment. Currently New Zealand is quoting carcase mutton at up to US46c a lb.