2:30 PM
Although vets are heading back to negotiations with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry this afternoon, their strike notice has already cost two valuable chilled lamb orders, according to Federated Farmers.
MAF meat inspectors plan to walk off the job at midnight tonight over a two-year-old pay dispute.
Federated Farmers chief executive Tony St Clair said two meat companies have told him that customers in Europe and the United States have cancelled significant orders.
He said there was a concern that other contracts could be lost.
MAF is due to met with the National Union of Public Employees (Nupe) - the union representing vets - at 4pm today in Christchurch in a last-ditch effort to avert the strike.
This morning the Employers' Federation applied to the Court of Appeal to overturn the Employment Court ruling that deemed the strike is legal.
Vet strike will put 9000 staff out in cold
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