A struggling meat industry is feeling the effects of recent rain and good grass growth, leading to more job losses in processing plants.

The Affco plant in Horotiu, north of Hamilton, has laid off 110 seasonal meat workers almost 6 months earlier than usual after significant reductions in stock.

The workers were part of a processing chain deemed surplus to requirements by Affco, who could not justify keeping them on with so few cattle.

Affco’s Director of Operations, Rowan Ogg, says the layoffs are part of working in a seasonal industry, but hopes production will pick back up again soon.

Mr Ogg says the staff who were laid off can still reapply for their old positions if production improves.