Skin prices down

Press, 8 November 1980, Page 3

Skin prices down

The only change in' the export schedule announced yesterday was a reduction of 20c in the prices paid to farmers for sheep skins. A skin with o.2kg of wool on it will now be worth 39c, with o.skg of wool, 81c, with Ikg, 166 c, and with 2kg, 331 c. Export prices are expected to be adjusted to take into account increased processing charges after the settlement of the meat workers’ award. According to some meat industry sources, the overall cost of processing a lamb could rise by about $1.50. The pressure to have stock killed is now building up at Canterbury works. The livestock manager of Waitaki N.Z. Refrigerating. Ltd. Mr G. H. Steel, said that pressure was very great and the company bad been sending stock out of Canterbury to both Pukeuri in North Otago and Picton in Marlborough for slaughter. All chains have been working at the Canterbury Frozen Meat Comnany’s three lamb and sheen killing works since Thursday, according to the company’s stock buying manager, Mr N. G. Cornelius. While on the basis of estb mates made yesterday there was still a small amount of killing space left for next week, it was expected to have been taken up by Monday or Tuesday, he said. By the end of the month, a backlog of stock awaiting slaughter is expected.