OPINION: A mate of yours truly wants to know why the beef schedule differential is now more than 45-50 cents a kilo between North and South Island producers – if you look at February 2024 steer prices.
As they told your old mate: “This equates to one in 12 steers going to the meat co-operative or company courtesy of the southern producers.”
They also suggest that the meat companies need to be far more transparent about why there is such a huge differential.
“Is it to help inefficient marketing and processing to compete with the northern companies,” they ask? “It has got to stop. We have heard all the old pathetic excuses over the years and remember they also make good money out of by-products, pharmaceuticals and hides etc – which are not disclosed."
These are all fair questions and the meat companies need to answer them pronto!