Chief executive Grant Cuff told a meeting of shareholders this week that while it was still to sign off its annual result, the Invercargill co-operative expected to pay about $20 million in pool payments this year along with its eighth tax-paid dividend since 2000.
In December next year, it plans a bonus share issue based on supplier support during the 2008-09 season.
Last year was a difficult year for meat companies with Alliance perhaps the strongest, announcing an operating profit $14.4 million on turnover of $1.1 billion while paying $7.8 million in pools.
This compared with a $52.1 million operating profit on turnover of $1.1 billion and pools of $20.2 million, a year earlier.
Publicly listed Affco and fellow co-operative Silver Fern Farms have both signalled better financial performances this year, but that improvement was based on a higher than usual kill which would have longer-term consequences.
This year's potential lamb kill was expected to be three million lower in each island, which was on the back of a 4.3 million decline in national sheep numbers.
National beef cattle numbers were also down 3.2%, with a 3% fall in the North island and 4% decline in the South Island.
Mr Cuff said companies with a high beef kill would enjoy better fortunes because margins from beef were greater this past season than for lamb.
Financially, the season improved as it progressed, he told about 140 shareholders in Milton.
Demand for space meant that last season Alliance killed stock on 22 Saturdays at its Lorneville works near Invercargill.
Looking ahead, Mr Cuff said lambs at the peak of this season would be worth $70 to $80 each, a rise of about $25; cattle prices would be 10% to 20% higher and venison more than 30% ahead of last year.
He said those forecasts could already be out of date as the exchange rate had eased since they were calculated.
In response to those higher prices, Alliance was increasing its yield quality contract premiums by 50%, the top range increasing from $3.50 a lamb to $5.25.
