FROZEN MEAT MARKET.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 87, 11 March 1935, Page 5

FROZEN MEAT MARKET.

LAMB PRICES EASIER.

MUTTON WEAKER. The lamb _ market is a shade easier owing to selling pressure, but consumption is good lor the time of year. Mutton market: Wethers, weaker for heavyweights. Ewes, demand slow. Beef market: Demand slow. New Zealand porker pigs: Trade s l ow ’ r w ‘*h prices easier for heavyweights. New Zealand baconer pigs: Prices easier. The above report was received on Saturday by tho Meat Board from its London office, which advises that the following arc the approximate average prices realised for the week ended March 8, based _on actual transactions of wholesale quantities of the descriptions of meat mentioned, and are for representative parcels of the goods offering during the week, being for business done on the basis of delivered to Smithfield market, and/or ex London stores. Prices for the two previous weeks are also shown.

New Zealand slieep.—Canterbury and North Island selected crossbred wethers and maiden ewes, 481 b to 561 b, 5d (earne); 571 b to 641 b, 4*d (4|d, 4 J a d); 651 b to 721 b, 4d (4|d, 4|d). North Island ditto, 481 b to 56 lb, 4|d (sd, sd); 571 b to 641 b, 4|d (4|u, 4|d); 651 b to 721 b, 4d (4|d, 4§d). Ewes: 481b' and under, 4|d (4|d, 4|d)j 481 bto 641 b, 3gd (3|d, 3gd);' 651 b to 721 b, 3|d (3|d, 3Jd).

New Zealand lambs.—Canterbury, 361 b and under, 6£d (7d, 7d); 371 b to 421 b, b£d (6R 7d); 431 b to 501 b, 6Jd (63d, 7d). Second quality, average 321 b, 6|d (6|d, 6fd). Other South Island brands not quoted. Selected North Island brands, 361 b and under, 6|d (7d, 7d); 371 b to 421 b, 6£d (6£d, 7d); 431 bto 501 b, 6ijd (s|d, 6|d). Second quality, average 321 b, 6|d (6§d, 6|d). Other North

Island brands, first quality, 361 b and under, 6§d (63d, 63d); 371 b to 421 b, 6d (6|d, 6|d). Second quality, average 321 b, 68d (6£d, 6£d).

Australian lambs. —Victorian, first quality, 361 b and under, 6|d (6|d, 6 3-8 d); 37 lb to 421 b, 6|d (6id, 6 3-8 d). Argentine lambs.—36lb and under, 6d

(6>£d, 6id); 371 b to 421 b, 5 7-8 d (6d, 6'id). New Zealand beef.—Ox fores. 27-8 d (same). Ox hinds, 3 5-8 d(3 5-Bd, 3 3-4 d). Cow fores and hinds not quoted. Argentine chilled beef. —Ox fores, 3gd (same). Ox hinds, s|d (sd, 4 3-4 d). Australian frozen beef. —Ox crops, over 1001 b, 3gd (same). Ox hinds, over 1601 b, 3 5-8 d (3 5-Bd, 3 3-4 d).

New Zealand prime porker pigs.—601 b to 801 b, sid (5 3-Bd, 5 3-8 d); 811 bto 1001 b. 4 3-4 d(4 3-4 d, sd); 1011 bto 1201 b, 4 7-8(1 (4 7-Bd, sd). New Zealand baconer pigs: 1201 b to 1601 b, s£d (5 5-Bd, 5. 5-8 d). EQUIVALENT NEW ZEALAND PARITY.

In regard to the prices realised for New Zealand lamb delivered to Smithfield market, the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board t supplies the following table, giving the equivalent New Zealand parity, after deducting all costs, including selling commission. The costing is based on to-day’s estimated skin values and includes exchange at current rates. The calculation is on the basis of a prime woolly lamb weighing, say, 341bs delivered at freezing works:

N.Z. “overall” parity If price delivered delivered at works to Smithfield is (approximately) (d per lb) (d per lb) 6 1 6.90 63- 6.75 6g 6.60

Note.—ln the above estimate the cost of killing, freezing and placing on board steamer is based on a charge of .575 d per lb. NO SIGN OF .IMPROVEMENT

The market is slightly easier all round, particularly for mutton, with no sign of improvement at the moment says a report received by Levin and Co., Ltd., from their London agents. Compared with tho previous week’s quotations, crossbred lamb, 281 b to 361 b, |cl per lb lower. Second quality lambs, gd per lb lower. Wethers, |d per lb lower. Ewes, 481 bto 721 b, |d per lb lower. Others unchanged. Smithfield “dolivered” prices are as follow: — North Island Down lambs, 281 b to 361 b, 7d per lb; 361 b to 421 b, 6gd. Best North Island crossbred lambs, 281 b to 361 b 6|d; 361 b _to 421 b, 6|d. North Island, second quality lambs, average 301 b to 311 b, 6jd. Best North Island wether sheep, under 481 b, s|d; 481 b to 561 b, 4£d; 561 b to 641 b, 4|d; 641 b to 721 b, 4d. North Island owes, under 481 b, 4|d; 481 bto 561 b, 3|d; 561 bto 641 b, 3|d; 641 b to 721 b, 3d. Now Zealand prime ox beef, 1601 b to 2201 b, 3|d. Tho Bank of New Zealand (produce department) has received the following advice from its London office as at close of business last week. Tho market is weaker for heavyweight wethers, light remain steady. Trade in owes is slow. The demand for lambs is good for the time of year. Tito market is over-supplied and the forcing of sales has weakened prices, Tho market for beef is easier. Wethers, light. to s|d per lb; heavy, 3|d to 4d. Ewes. 2|d to 4d. Lambs, 2’s, 6fd to 6|d; B’s. 6Jd to 6|d; 4’s, 63d to 6|d; seconds, 6|cl to 6|d. Beef: Ox hinds, 3|d to 33d; fores, 2|d to 2Jd.

RETAIL PRICES IN LONDON. The Meat Producers’ Board has been advised by its London manager that the following retail prices were being quoted ■for New Zealand lamb and mutton retailed in London during February, 1935. These prices represent a fair average of rho prices quoted by the bettor-class shops in London for the best quality:— Lambs.—Legs 12d per lb, shoulders 10d, loins lOd, nocks 6d, breasts 3d, forequarters hindquarters lid. Mutton (wethers). —Logs 9jd per lb; shoulders Bd, loins Bd, necks 4d, breasts 3d.

FEILDING SALE. The N.Z. Farmers’ Co-op. Distributing Coy., Ltd., report on the Feilding sale: — About 20,000 sheep were offered at Friday’s Feilding sale. There was quite a good demand for breeding ewes, good ewes selling well. Store lambs sold well at about last week’s quotation. Fat sheep were slightly easier than at the previous week’s sale. Fat cattle sold at late rates. Quotations: Fat ewes, 13s 7d, 15s Bd, 16s 4d, 17s, 17s lOd; fat wethers, 20s, 225, 23s lid, 245, 255; fat lambs, 17s 6d, 18s Id, 19s, 21s 3d, 22.5 3d, 235. Store owes: 2-rii ewes, 23i5, 24s 3d, 255, 275, 30s; 4 and 5-yr owes, 18s, I9s, 19s 6d, 21s, 225. 6d; 5-yr ewes, 17s 3d, 18s, 19s 2d, 20s, 225. Store lambs: W.f.w. iambs, 10s, 12s 6d. 13s, 13s 6d, 14s fid; b.f. lambs, 13s, 14s, 14s 6d, 15s 6d. Fat cattle: Fat cows, £2, £2 15s, £3 ss, £3 17s fid, £4; fat heifers, £2 10s, £3, £3 ss, £4; vealers, 27s 6d to 355. Dairy stock: Spring heifer, £3 ss; cows in milk, £4 10s.

NEW ZEAALND WHEAT CROP. NO SURPLUS FOR EXPORT. ANTICIPATED. China has recently been a keen competitor in the Australian market for wheat, but New Zealand is. unlikely this year to be able to participate in the Eastern trade. A few years ago, some substantial shipments were made to the East from here, but that was in a year when there was a large surplus. This year, it is anticipated that the wheat that will be produced, with the whoat still in hand from last year, will bo just enough to meet requirements (says an exchange). Since the Wheat Purchase Board came into operation there has been the possibility that in years when there is a particularly heavy crop New Zealand would become an exporter. It was to deal with a surplus that the board was primarily formed. This year, the Department of Agriculture estimates the yield at 29 bushels an acre, giving a total yield of about 6,500,000 bushels. Added to this there is an amount of 1,800,000 bushels from last year’s crop in the hands of the board. Beside this wheat, there is an unknowu quantity in the hands of farmers who decided last year to hold their own wheat. Much of this is being sold as 1935 crop. It is anticipated by the board that wheat from ail sources will be enough for requirements, but that there will be none for export.