Retail beef prices are tipped to rise as world demand severely cuts this country's supplies.
Domestic meat supplies normally dwindle in spring but Beef+Lamb New Zealand says this year may be the worst.
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The industry group is warning beef products could very shortly cost more because retailers will no longer absorb price increases. The group's chief executive, Rod Slater, said the beef shortage and price rises behind the scenes have been going on for some weeks.
Mr Slater says there is heavy demand from the United States for grinding meat, which goes into products such as hamburgers, and New Zealand is having to compete.