South Island meat processor Silver Fern Farms has closed its Brooks, United Kingdom, plant with the loss of 64 jobs.

Chief executive Keith Cooper said the frozen meat processing facility, wholly owned by the company since 1998, was no longer needed due to operational changes and customer demands.

In the late 1990s, the company sent frozen product to the Brooks site to be processed and packed largely for logistical and presentation reasons, which was unable to be handled in New Zealand.

In what will be a litmus test for international meat exports, South Island-based processor Silver Fern Farms is hitting New Zealand supermarkets with branded and portion-controlled packs of lamb.

The move is a bold attempt to control more of the value chain from pasture to plate, essentially cutting out the middleman with a product directed at the higher end of the market.

A grim year ahead has been signalled by Dunedin-based meat processor Silver Fern Farms.

While the company posted a solid result for the year to August 30 reporting a $43.4 million before tax profit, chief executive Keith Cooper warned the current year would not be as lucrative for the farmer-owned co-operative.

Mr Cooper said profitability was the focus moving forward.

Just two days out from the deadline for Silver Fern Farms shareholders to vote with their chequebooks in support of its capital raising plans, the meat processor has announced it might sell its 10 million shares in PGG Wrightson.

Silver Fern Farms has already said a share offer, allowing farmer suppliers to buy two shares for every one they already hold, has not had a strong uptake.

Meat processor Silver Fern Farms has cancelled its business with Dunedin-based rural supplies company CRT,  following a public slanging match now being described as "unjustified and ill-advised."

Although CRT would not disclose the value of the business, chief executive Brent Esler said it was of significant value and included a large volume of grain the company sourced from farmer shareholders.

Silver Fern Farms boss Keith Cooper alleges rural supplies company CRT attempted to poach staff as it launched a new livestock service.

Dunedin-based CRT was hit with a stinging tirade today from meat processor Silver Fern Farms.

Mr Cooper blasted the farmer-owned co-operative for buying Alpine Livestock and went on to question its governance.