Lamb Meat
Steady, Live
Up And Down

East Coast lamb carcasses held steady last week, though cutout values moved higher. Live lambs were highly mixed, from sharply higher to sharply lower.

Cutout values were $3.40 higher on lightweights at $184.40 and $1.78 higher on heavies at $187.95. This the first increase in cutout values in 30 weeks.

There were 908 metric tons, or around two million pounds, of lamb and mutton passed for entry into the U.S. the week ending October 14, the equivalent of 56 percent of domestic production. The year to date volume was up 19 percent at 47,227 metric tons. Imports from Australia are up 28 percent at 31,666 metric tons, from New Zealand up three percent at 14,835 metric tons.

There were 5346 slaughter ewes exported to Mexico last week. The year to date volume through Tuesday was up 15 percent at 343,073 head. There have also been 50,861 goats exported to Mexico this year, down 18 percent. Angora numbers are off sharply, while Spanish goats are up 14 percent.

Lamb pelts were on the weak side recently. Fall clips were quoted at $9-11, No. 1 pelts $8-10.50, No. 2 $6.50-8, and No. 3-4 $3-5.

Sheep and lamb slaughter the last few months has been around 10 percent below a year ago. It appears the volume this year will be around seven percent less than last year at around 3.45 million head, just about half the number slaughtered in 1984.

In San Angelo, feeder lambs weighing 70-90 pounds brought $93-98, 90-100 pounds $89-90; newcrop lambs weighing 40-60 pounds were $113-117.50, 65 pounds $109 and 70-80 pounds $101-105. Fredericksburg feeders of 45-55 pounds made $123-129.50, 65-85 pounds $118-125.50. In Junction, 50-70 pound lambs made $90-107, 70-90 pounds $95-105. Midwest markets quoted 55 pound feeders $92-94, 60-80 pounds $80-90, a few $100, 80-100 pounds $70-80, a few $92 and 110 pounds $69.50. Faith, S.D. lambs weighing 50-70 pounds brought $90-93, 70-90 pounds $85-90.50 and 95-110 pounds $76-80.50.

Direct feeder lamb movement was light. Oregon had a few 90 pound lambs at $80, a few at $84.

Slaughter lambs in San Angelo brought $71-78, a few up to $84 and a few down to $67. Fredericksburg moved 80-95 pounders at $90-100, 95-105 pounds $100-108. Midwest markets had shorn lambs $63-69, wooled $61-67. Midwest Internet lambs made $63.50.

Slaughter lambs moving on contracts in Colorado had 130-170 pounds $63.50-70.83; the weekly average was $68.17 at 149 pounds compared to $73.35 and 140 pounds a year ago. Idaho moved 135-150 pound lambs direct at $65 and California had 130-150 pound lambs $68-70. Midwest shorn lambs moved direct at $63-67, wooled $62-65.

Fat slaughter ewes in San Angelo brought $35-46, fleshy $45-56.50. Midwest ewes were $28-41.

Junction had a few yearling ewes going back to the country at $70-100 per head.