U.K. meat easier

Press, 25 January 1986, Page 24

U.K. meat easier

PA Wellington Demand for all meats has eased at both wholesale and retail levels in Britain this week, according to the New Zealand Meat Producers Board. Domestic beef prices fell by Ip a lb at wholesale. Homesale-killed iambs eased back by 7.5 p a lb at live auction against the previous week’s level. This drop was reflected in a 8p to Up a lb drop in hook prices, despite numbers being down 4 per cent on the week before. English pork trading was indifferent and prices remained static. New Zealand lamb maintained a fair share of a generally poor market at unchanged prices. On the Smithfield market this week, New Zealand PL grade lambs were quoted at 59p to 60p a lb (5NZ3.49 to 5NZ3.55 a kg). The United States imported manufacturing beef market has fallen and possibly bottomed out with the recent

slide in beef prices from Australia and New Zealand. Domestic slaughterings have declined but supplies to retailers remain steady. It is hoped that National Meat Week, which starts next week, will spur retailers into buying beef and deaning-up domestic supplies. This may cause prices and demand to firm up for both domestic and imported product This week the average prices of ..bull beef and cow beef both dropped US2c to US96c a lb c.i.f. and US9Oc a lb c.i.f. respectively (SNZ3.B3 a kg).