Meat holding up, lamb showing gains

Meat appears to have so far missed the worst of the international economic crisis. Meat companies remain upbeat about prospects for lamb especially, with in-market prices 15% to 18% higher than at the same time last year because of lower volumes, along with an exchange rate more sympathetic to exporters reports the ODT.  SFFs chief executive Keith Cooper told farmers at a suppliers' meeting at Finegand this week that he remained confident lamb would not be affected by the economic meltdown. While the restaurant and food service sectors were struggling, with fewer diners, that had been offset by an increase in retail sales as more food was bought to be cooked at home. There had been a correction in beef prices, but that was related to unsustainably high prices reached for grinding beef and not the credit crunch. Heavy-weight lambs could be the way of the future as SFFs reduced its reliance on the UK, it needed lambs heavier than 17.5kg to satisfy new markets. The goal was to get lamb legs of sufficient size to be boned out into 300g packs that could be cooked with the minimum of preparation. Main Points What will happen to prices (peak price for the first half of the season)? "¢ Lamb: $4.50 to $4.70 a kg. "¢ Beef: $3.50 to $3.70 a kg. "¢ Venison: $7.50 to $9.50 a kg (peak price autumn chilled season).