NZ sheep and beef farmers got higher prices in the September quarter, outpacing the rise in the prices they paid.

Employment Court found Affco unlawfully locked out meatworkers from collective bargaining.

A video taken at one of US largest pork producers shows pigs being dragged across the floor, being beaten with paddles, and sick to the point of immobility.

Difficult conditions for sheep meat overseas helped drive Alliance Group's pre-tax profit down by 55.1 per cent to $7.9 million in the year.

Veritas Investments says it has had no success selling Mad Butcher outlets and that the meat chain continues to face a "challenging" environment.

Until I heard about the possibility of processed meats making me sick, my main reason for cutting down was to try and curb the middle age weight gain, writes Sam Judd.

New Zealand lamb prices have improved and look to be heading higher, ASB Bank said.

Recapitalised meat processor's two chairmen hen Wei Ping and Rob Hewett will bring different values to Silver Fern Farms.

Alliance chairman Murray Taggart says any Silver Fern merger Farms risks making a "big beached whale" of the meat industry.

Maling's proposal to acquire 50% of Silver Fern Farms reaffirms that Chinese investors are interested in New Zealand's rural and food-based assets.

It's as though there's no institutional memory of the stranglehold giant British meat companies had on the industry stretching back through to 1882, writes Brian Rudman.

Silver Fern Farms, the country's biggest meat processor, says its is forming a 50/50 joint partnership with Chinese investors.

This season's lamb crop is expected to fall by 5.7 per cent compared with last year, says Beef and Lamb New Zealand in its latest season outlook.

Shanghai Maling Aquarius is understood to have a $300 million war chest to back its bid for a slice of the Kiwi meat co-operative.

Pre-tax profits for an average sheep and beef farm in New Zealand will increase to $109,900 this season - 9.6 per cent more than last season, but 3.1 per cent below the five-year average, Beef and Lamb New Zealand says in its 2016/6 season outlook.

China government backed Bright Food is understood to be the party in talks to take a stake in Silver Fern Farms.

Deal would increase dominance of New Zealand's biggest meat exporter but erode farmer control of the industry.

Crunch time is fast approaching for the farmer-funded industry group, Beef and Lamb New Zealand.

About one thousand meatworkers at eight Affco plants in the North Island have voted to strike for two days.

Concentrating on marketing its cuts rather than processing them is paying dividends for a niche meat exporter.

Silver Fern Farms, NZ's biggest meat processor says it is considering raising $100m in fresh capital.

Silver Fern Farms says the group agitating for change at New Zealand's biggest meat processor has misled shareholders.

Silver Fern has enlisted the services of investment bank Goldman Sachs to advise it on possible equity raising options as it seeks to reduce debt.

More taxpayer money could be spent on a controversial demonstration farm in Saudi Arabia but nothing is planned at present, Prime Minister John Key says.

The drain on ACC will continue as long as Talley's continues to insist its' health and safety scheme is working, writes Dita De Boni.

Silver Fern shareholders are seeking to force a special meeting to discuss the benefits of a merger with Alliance Group.

An Angus sirloin was last night crowned the Grand Champion of steaks in New Zealand. Catherine Smith was one of the lucky judges.

Sheep meat prices have fallen by about 10 per cent over the past two months, driven by a drop in demand in China and difficult conditions in another important export market - Britain.