Meat companies are being forced to review prices and shorten their hours as farmers hold onto their sheep and cattle to fatten them up.
The Taylor Preston plant in Wellington says low stock numbers have forced it to have a no-kill day on Monday, for the second time in a week. Some night shifts have also been cut.
Chief executive Simon Gatenby says steady rain this year has resulted in more feed than usual and farmers are preferring to hold back their stock for better returns.
Mr Gatenby says Taylor Preston has to keep its livestock prices competitive to attract stock into the plant.
The Meat Workers Union says some freezing works have been open for as little as two or three days per week over the past four weeks.
