WA_LS666
Washington, DC     Thu, Mar 12, 2009     USDA Market News

New Zealand Meat and Wool Export Summary and Prices

BEEF:  According to NZX Agrifax, a marked turnaround in prices in the US
beef market found cow and bull beef higher by US4c/lb.  This halts a five
week losing streak stemming from US buyers being caught short of product
due to a drop in U.S. cow kill.  The U.S. manufacturing beef market is
expected to remain volatile.  NZ's cow kill will peak in late April to
early May at very high levels as almost two seasons of cull dairy cows
will be killed this season.

LAMB: Lamb exporters are seeing a stark contrast in supply compared
to last month.  Good grass growth and positive schedule movement
continue to encourage farmers to hold back on stock from going
to slaughter.  Lamb kill last week was down 16% on the week earlier
in the South Island and 32% in the North.  Processed product supplies
are drying up fast and overseas buyers are competing for significantly
reduced volumes.

Beef $/CWT                                                    Week Ending      Week Ending
                                                                07-Mar-09        28-Feb-09
P2 Steer    542-595 lbs                                             72.58            72.12
(4-7 mm)    595-650 lbs                                             74.84            74.39
(Fat)       650-705 lbs                                             75.75            75.30
            705-761 lbs                                             75.75            75.75

M Cow       375-430 lbs                                             51.71            50.35
(0-1 mm)    430-485 lbs                                             52.62            51.26
            485-540 lbs                                             53.98            52.62

Bull        595-650 lbs                                             74.39            74.84

Lamb  ($/Head)               Fat Cover
                                  (mm)
            24 lbs                0-6                               20.79            20.66
            33 lbs                7-12                              39.02            38.98
            46 lbs                7-12                              53.11            52.96

Pelt        1 lb                                                     0.42             0.42

Ewe  ($/Head)
            46 lbs                                                  22.59            22.51

Wool  (c/cwt clean)           (microns)
            Fine                  21                               198.68           200.04
            Medium                25                               141.07           142.43
            Coarse                35                                78.93            77.57


Notes:      All prices are U.S. Dollars.
            All meat prices are carcass based and net to farmers.
            Lamb values include a 1 kg shorn pelt.
            Ewe values at 0.5 kg pelt.

Source: NZX AgriFax Limited, New Zealand
        202-720-8054
        www.http://www.ams.usda.gov/LSMarketNews

7:59        jab
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