WA_LS666     ***This report will be discontinued May 1, 2010***
Des Moines, IA     Thu, Apr 29, 2010     USDA Market News

New Zealand Meat and Wool Export Summary and Prices

***This is the FINAL report***

BEEF:  According to NZX Agrifax, despite market activity slowing, U.S.
imported beef prices pushed higher. Memorial Day is only four weeks away,
marking the start of U.S. summer holidays and generally a surge in demand
for beef, keeping the outlook for beef very firm. The price gains in
exported product made over the last 3 to 4 weeks have finally started to
flow into schedule prices this week. The average NZ schedule price for a
300kg bull jumped 4c/kg, bringing around just under $980 per head.

LAMB:  Overseas lamb meat prices are relatively unchanged this week.
Middle cuts are continuing to recover towards pre-recession levels.
However, markets in developing nations are beginning to show some price
resistance. The premiums traditionally enjoyed by holders of quota to
the EU have all but been erased by the global shortage of product, which
has forced all markets to pay the higher prices to secure supply. Despite
the increased processing in NZ in the past three weeks, frozen stocks are
critically low and this has created some concern for both buyers and
sellers. Schedule prices have lifted as a result, particularly in the
South Island where a 17.5kg lamb is now priced at $4.40/kg.

***This is the FINAL report***

Beef $/CWT                                     Week Ending      Week Ending
                                                   04/24/10         04/17/10
P2 Steer    542-595 lbs                                N/A           102.51
(4-7 mm)    653-705 lbs                                N/A           106.14
(Fat)       650-705 lbs                                N/A           107.05
            705-761 lbs                                N/A           107.50

M Cow       375-430 lbs                                N/A            73.03
(0-1 mm)    430-485 lbs                                N/A            74.39
            485-540 lbs                                N/A            75.75

Bull        653-705 lbs                                N/A           103.87

Lamb  ($/Head)               Fat Cover
                                  (mm)
            24 lbs                0-6                  N/A            21.36
            33 lbs                7-12                 N/A            47.25
            46 lbs                7-12                 N/A            65.17

Pelt        2 lb                                       N/A             0.39

Ewe  ($/Head)
            46 lbs                                     N/A            36.53

Wool  (c/cwt clean)           (microns)
            Fine                  21                   N/A           351.99
            Medium                25                   N/A           265.81
            Coarse                35                   N/A           115.67


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
            515-284-4460
            http://www.ams.usda.gov/LSMarketNews

7:48        adr


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