Sheep, beef meat prices reach record levels

Press, 7 September 1989, Page 18

Sheep, beef meat prices reach record levels

The Canterbury drought coupled with the recent 2.5 per cent increase in G.S.T. has helped push sheep, and beef meat prices to the highest they have been, according to G.U.S. meat marketing manager, Mr Robert Smith. The killing of breeding stock during the peak of the drought has affected the market fully only now, Mr Smith said. The wholesale price of beef was $2.20 to $3 a kilogram now, compared with $1.70 to $l.BO a kilogram the same time last

year. Wholesale sheep carcases were $25 to $33 each. The high prices being offered overseas also helped push local meat prices up, Mr Smith said. Other meat such as chicken had increased in price with the world price for wheat for feed, and fish was dear, being at the mercy of the weather and export prices in some lines. “The only meat that’s really remained steady in price is pork," Mr Smith said.

The price rise for red meats was temporary as the meat industry had had a good season in stockbreeding this year with the regular rainfall. “There’s not likely to be any price decreases for some two months when the spring lambs in early October start coming in again” Mr Smith said. “It’s basically an auction system that’s controlled by what happens in the overseas market. That’s really what determines the prices we finally set,” Mr Smith said.