Light lambs down

Press, 10 January 1987, Page 3

Light lambs down

Reduced prices for light lambs but small increases for heavier stock have been announced by meat processing companies in next week’s South Island export schedule of payments to farmers. The biggest change has been made to the alpha grade which has been cut 25c a kilogram. Prices of PL lambs have been reduced 10c and YL lambs are- down 4c. The heavier PM, YM and YX grades have been increased 2c a kilogram and PX lambs are up sc. Exporters say the changes have been made to encourage farmers to consign more heavy lambs to processing works. Early season premiums of about $5 a head above the export schedule have resulted

in large numbers of light lambs being processed earlier than normal. In many cases farmers have quit their light stock and retained their better lambs for growing on to heavier weights. The P.P.C.S. is offering a marketing premium of $1 a head on all lamb grades. Waitaki International, Fortex Group and C. S. Stevens Group have a $2 premium on the heavier PX, YX, PM and YM grades. Mutton and skin prices are unchanged in the export schedule. Prime and manufacturing beef prices have been reduced 10c a kilogram and bull beef is down 15c. The P.P.C.S. has announced, however, that it will reduce prices for all beef grades only sc.