Britain’s supermarkets have been urged to develop closer relationships with UK lamb suppliers as forecasts from New Zealand indicate its crop is likely to be the second smallest in nearly 60 years.
Meat and Lamb New Zealand expects export numbers to fall 6.8% to 19.5million, making the 2013-14 availability the third lowest since 1960.
Overall lamb production at 25.53million is down 4.7%, or 1.3million head, largely the result of drought which hit feed supplies and the condition of ewes at mating, particularly in the north island where numbers are down 7.4% to 11.79million. That is the smallest north island crop since records began.
UK supermarkets frequently turn to New Zealand for supplies and have in recent months been criticised for favouring imported lamb from the Antipodes and removing UK supplies from their shelves.
The National Sheep Association said supermarkets would be unable to rely so heavily on New Zealand imports, particularly when processors there are prioritising emerging markets, such as China, over more traditional destinations in Europe.
NSA said it would become increasingly difficult for UK supermarkets to undercut domestically produced lamb with cheap New Zealand cuts.
Chief executive Phil Stocker said: “Supermarkets here in the UK are going to see increasing volatility in the years to come as a result of changing weather patterns impacting global supply – as seen this year in New Zealand – and international demand for lamb increasing. As for New Zealand, there are increasing opportunities for UK lamb to be exported to developing markets, and so retailers will have to do more to secure domestic supplies.
“The answer is greater connection between our UK producers and the domestic market, which can only be achieved by supermarkets paying more consistent prices and ensuring they stock UK lamb throughout the year.
“The practice of turning away from UK lamb in the new year due to an assumption that it suddenly becomes ‘old season’ or ‘hogget’ cannot be justified. Lambs are regularly born from January through to May so to say they all become old season after one date is simply not right.
“With our major supermarkets talking publicly about shortening supply chains and supporting UK producers, in the interest of the entire supply chain including consumers, this wake-up call from New Zealand might finally result in some action.”
Lambing percentages in New Zealand fell 3.8% to 120.8% from the 2012 record. But in the north they dipped 5.8% to 117.6%.