Turnover was also up from $1.1 billion in 2006-07 to $1.3 billion in 2007-08, as more sheep in particular were processed, improving plant efficiency. Market returns lifted late in the year and the exchange rate moved in favour of exporters.
The operating surplus before tax and pool payments was $54 million compared to $11 million and the net profit after tax increased from $3 million to $33 million.
Chairman Owen Poole said the board would make pool payments of $20.5 million, an additional $3 million in dividends at 5c a share with a full imputation credit, and a bonus share issue.
Pool payments a year earlier totalled $7.8 million.
Mr Poole said the result cemented the Alliance's reputation as one of the country's most consistently profitable meat companies.
"In the last five years Alliance Group has generated a net profit before distributions of $152.2 million. In the same period, a total of $99.3 million has been distributed to shareholders by way of pool surplus payments, dividends and bonus shares."
This equated to more than $4 a lamb above schedule, he said.
Chief executive Grant Cuff said the finance figures showed the benefits of more stock processed, as sheep from farms converting to dairying were killed, but also from a more favourable exchange rate in the second half of the year.
"Last year's higher throughput has helped processing for all companies," he said in an interview.
Markets also strengthened as sheep numbers from around the world fell and buyers tried to shore up supplies.
Mr Cuff said the coming year would be more difficult given the credit crunch and an expected drop of six million lambs and three million sheep in the nation's flock.
That would return the potential kill this season to numbers last seen three years ago.
"We have been there before."
The company has refined its objective payment systems across all its plants, which rewards farmers according to the meat yield of their lambs, and Mr Cuff said the yield quality premium contracts for the top band of animals would increase from $3.50 to $5.25 per lamb above schedule for second year suppliers.
During the year under review, Mr Cuff said, the company was able to generate operating efficiencies, but he acknowledged the dry conditions put pressure on farmers needing to quit livestock.
The company has focused on maintaining a strong balance-sheet given the looming global economic uncertainties, with shareholders equity steady at 69% (68.7% in the previous year).
Total assets were $493 million ($457 million) and liabilities were up slightly at $340 million ($314 million).
Operating cashflow was up sharply at $43 million ($3.4 million).
