Schedule encourages lean lambs

Press, 11 October 1982, Page 3

Schedule encourages lean lambs

A substantial encouragement to farmers to produce lean lambs and separate payments for hoggets are the feature of the first meat export schedule announced by the Meat Board under its acquisition policy. The schedule will apply for one week from today. The biggest rise in lamb prices is in the YM grade, which has risen 6c a kilogram from the combined board and exporters' schedule last week to 142.5 c in the South Island. The YL grade has also risen 4c to 128.5 c a kilogram. There has been a clear demand from lamb-importing countries throughout the world for leaner carcases and the board has obviously weighted its schedule to reflect this demand. It has also increased 1c the South Island price for the PL grade, to 133.5 c; left the PM and PX prices as they were last week: reduced the PH and PHH prices 2c to 133.5 c and 132.5 c respectively: raised the OL price 1c to 130.5 c and left the OM. A. E and cutter prices unchanged. The board has also announced a hogget schedule which for the South Island is HL (to 22kg). 64c; HM (22.5 to 26kg). 75c; and HX (26.5 to 30kg). 49c.

These are at levels from 8c to 18c a kilogram above prices for the mutton grades, which have remained largely unchanged from last week. The MM grade has been reduced 1c to 21c in the South Island. Beef payments in the exporters' schedules are also unchanged although supplementary payments on beef have been reduced 0.5 c to 1c a kilogram, depending on grade. Exporter payments for lamb and sheep skins are unchanged. “As a result of the agreement between the exporters, the board, and the Government that the board purchase all sheepmeats at levels established under its S.M.P. scheme, no weekly supplement will be declared during the remainder of the 1982-83 season.” said the announcement by the board on Friday. As it is not likely that world lamb markets will improve enough to allow payments to producers above the S.M.P. levels, future changes to the schedule will be to vary the relativities between grades, such as was done this week. There may also be changes in the prices for those products over which the exporters have control such as beef and skins.