Friday, 31 January 2020 09:28

Coronavirus forces NZ meat shipments away from China

Written by  Staff Reporters
Silver Fern Farms has been forced to divert product from China. Silver Fern Farms has been forced to divert product from China.

Meat processor Silver Fern Farms is being forced to divert product away from China as coronavirus ravages its biggest market.

Read: Coronavirus starting to impact meat processing.

SFF chief executive Simon Limmer says it is working with its Chinese partners to monitor the situation on a daily basis.

“We are diverting product to other markets….while short-term these markets deliver lower value returns, and will unfortunately have an impact on upcoming livestock pricing, it will enable us to maintain our ability to process stock.

“While beef and lamb items can be diverted, we have very limited market options for mutton with China the main global market for mutton.”

SFF is reducing mutton processing at its plants from next week and says it recognises the impact of its decision on NZ farmers.

“During peak production and with limited feed availability, the timing of this event is challenging and processing continuity is important,” Limmer says.

He is urging farmers to talk to their SFF representatives for more information.

More like this

Every exhibitor with something valuable to offer for farmers

OPINION: Welcome to the second annual NZ Dairy Expo at Matamata – an event created to bring together the best of the New Zealand dairy industry in a focused, grassroots environment where dairy farmers and rural professionals can meet, talk, compare products, and make smart decisions for their farms.

Featured

Controls lifted at poultry farm

Movement controls have been lifted from Mainland Poultry’s Hillgrove Farm in Otago, after the successful eradication of H7N6 strain of high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

Farmers urged not to be complacent about TB

New Zealand's TBfree programme has made great progress in reducing the impact of the disease on livestock herds, but there’s still a long way to go, according to Beef+Lamb NZ.

Editorial: Making wool great again

OPINION: Otago farmer and NZ First MP Mark Patterson is humble about the role that he’s played in mandating government agencies to use wool wherever possible in new and refurbished buildings.

National

Machinery & Products

Farmer-led group buys Novag

While the name and technology remain unchanged and new machines will continue to carry the Novag name, all the assets,…

Buhler name to go

Shareholders at a special meeting have approved a proposed deal that will see Buhler Industries, the publicly traded Versatile and…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Make it 1000%!

OPINION: The appendage swinging contest between the US and China continues, with China hitting back with a new rate of…

Own goal

OPINION: The irony of President Trump’s tariff obsession is that the worst damage may be done to his own people.

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter