Lamb Prices
Hold, Carcass
Prices Off

Fat and feeder lamb prices held fairly steady across the country this week despite a sharp decline on carcasses. Slaughter ewes sold $2-4 higher.

Lamb carcasses on the East Coast lost $3 on weights under 85 pounds and $8 on 85 pounds and up. There is now a $27 spread between heavy and lightweight carcasses. Weights under 55 pounds brought $159.50-160, 55-65 pounds $154.50-155, 65-75 pounds $149.50-150, 75-85 pounds $142.50-143, and horses over 85 pounds $132.50-133. The $160 is the lowest peak price since the last week in 1998, heavies the lowest since May 1998.

Feeder lambs are scarce across the country, a situation compounded by the fact that some are going straight into slaughter.

Slaughter ewe exports to Mexico last week totaled 7385 head. Through Tuesday an additional 18,084 head were exported, up 16 percent from last year.

There were 1200 metric tons, or 2.6 million pounds, of lamb and mutton imported into the U.S. the week ending December 18. The first two weeks of December the volume was 27 percent less than a year ago.

USDA's Foreign Agriculture Service reports lamb imports for the month of November 23 percent fewer than a year earlier at 2123 metric tons or 4.7 million pounds. The year to date volume was up nine percent at 30,684 mt.

Pelt prices are still at a low ebb, stumbling along at $2-4.

San Angelo quoted oldcrop feeder lambs weighing 50-90 pounds $85-89.50, 90-100 pounds $78-81, newcrop 50-85 pounds $95-108. Fredericksburg newcrop feeder lambs of 40-60 pounds made $110-115, 50-70 pounds $100-110, 70-80 pounds $90-105. Goldthwaite saw $90-99 on 40-60 pound feeders, 40 pounds $106, 60-80 pounds $85-92. Junction had newcrop 40-60 pound lambs $100-110, oldcrop 60-100 pounds $85-90.50. Midwest markets moved 60-80 pound lambs at $80-85, 80-100 pounds $70-80.

Feeder lambs moving direct in West Texas weighing 70-85 pounds were $82-83, 90-95 pounds $79-80.

Fat lambs in San Angelo earned $67-75 on 90-125 pounds, a few $77-82, 125-145 pounds $65-70, and feeder fleshed 60-90 pounds $86-94. Goldthwaite had 90-110 pound fats $87-94. Midwest shorn fats brought $63-65.50, wooled $60-65.25 and newcrops $92-93.

Recent direct sales of fat lambs in West Texas moved at $63-65. Colorado contract lambs of 136-165 pounds made $62-68, the weekly average $64.66 at 153 pounds compared to $67.03 and 143 pounds a year ago. Kansas fats weighing 140-145 pounds made $65. Wyoming moved 135-145 pound fats at $60-60.50, Arizona had fat lambs $65, and California lambs scaling 130-145 pounds were $65-67, some with weight stops at 135 pounds.

Slaughter ewes in San Angelo were $40-54, a few to $59. Midwest markets had ewes $30-39.

Newell, S.D. sold bred yearlings for $98-105 per head, 2-3 year-olds $107.50, 2-4 year-olds $101-105, four year-olds $89.50, and aged ewes $80-86.