SUPERMARKET chain Coles has released July 2016 contracts for shorn lambs as competition for declining quality trade and heavy lamb supplies increases across eastern Australia.

The new contract for Gundagai in New South Wales specifies a price of 590c/kg for 18-25kg cwt shorn lambs in lot sizes of 150 or more for delivery in the week starting July 4 and in the week from July 25.

The Gundagai Meat Processors plant will be closed for Coles deliveries for two weeks from July 11 until July 22 to allow maintenance work to be undertaken.

The contract for Brooklyn (JBS Australia’s plant) in Victoria specifies a price of 600c/kg for 18-25kg cwt shorn lambs in lot sizes of 150 or more for delivery from July 4 up to and including the week starting from July 25.

Coles’ usual upside clause applies to the contracts, with the price increasing by 50 percent of the Coles weekly spot grid price at delivery if it exceeds the contracted price.

On delivery, lambs must have a maximum wool length of less than 2 inches (5cm) or have been shorn no more than 15 weeks prior to delivery. The contract offers are for a limited time only. Discounts apply for seed contamination and on lambs outside the contracted hot standard carcase weight range.

As per its new delivery system, Coles also requires that Producer Identification Code numbers and correct trading details must accompany consignments. The PIC number and trading details must also match the current National Vendor Declaration accompanying the lambs to the processing plant.

In June, the supermarket paid 580c/kg for suitable shorn 18-25kg lambs at Gundagai and 600c/kg at Brooklyn. This followed May contracts of 560c/kg at Gundagai and 580c/kg at Brooklyn.

Click here to view the latest Coles July lamb contracts.