Lamb Meat
Steady, Fats,
Feeders Mixed

Dressed lamb meat prices held steady last week. Fat and feeder lambs were mixed, Midwest markets $5 off and most others about steady, though some Texas feeder lambs were $1-3 higher. Slaughter ewes in Texas were a little higher; they were lower on Midwest markets.

Carcass lamb reports on the East Coast had 65 pounds and down $154.50-156.50, 65-75 pounds $147.50-149.50, 75-85 pounds $144.50-147.50, and 85 pounds and up $139.50-140.50.

Carcass cutout values were a little higher. Weights of 65 pounds and down were $3.96 higher at $188.35, over 65 pounds up $2.82 at $190.78.

A total of 7177 slaughter ewes crossed into Mexico last week, bringing the year to date total to 347,907 head, up 14 percent.

There were 917 metric tons, or around two million pounds, of lamb and mutton imported into the U.S. the week ending October 21, the equivalent of 53 percent of domestic production that week. The year to date volume is up about 19 percent at 48,144 metric tons, or around 106 million pounds.

Feeder lambs in San Angelo weighing 65-90 pounds brought $93-97, a few at $99, and 92 pounds $88.50; newcrop lambs weighing 38 pounds made $122.50, 50-60 pounds $103-110, a few 45 pounds $117 and 60-70 pounds $100-110. Fredericksburg feeders of 50-60 pounds brought $125-132, 60-80 pounds $120-130, a few $103-119. Goldthwaite lambs scaling 65-75 pounds were $91-102. Lometa had 50-80 pound feeders $95-104 and 80-100 pounds $90-98. Midwest markets moved 60-80 pound lambs at $74-90, 80-100 pounds $70-80 and 105-115 pounds $62.75-65. Billings feeders weighing 60-70 pounds made $87-95, some 69 pounds $100, 70-80 pounds $89-97, a few 71 pounds $100.50, 80-90 pounds $89.50-95, 90-100 pounds $80-93, and 100-115 pounds $76.50-83.50.

Feeder lambs moving direct were limited, most moving into feedlots with retained ownership. Colorado had 80 pound feeders at $80 and North Dakota moved 80-95 pounders at $81.

Slaughter lambs in San Angelo weighing 90-135 pounds brought $72-79, a few up to $83. Fredericksburg had 80-130 pound fats $91-100 and Goldthwaite fats were $71-80. Midwest markets had fat lambs $61-65.90.

Recent returns from Colorado fat lambs on contract had 140-175 pounds earning $64-71. Kansas quoted 150-155 pound lambs moving direct at $67.25 with a 40-cent slide on weights over 150 pounds. Idaho moved 150-160 pound lambs at $65-66, Oregon called 130-135 pounds $66.50, and California lambs weighing 125-155 pounds were $68-70, 115-120 pounds $70.50. Midwest fat lambs moved direct at $62-65.

Fat slaughter ewes in San Angelo brought $37-47, fleshy $48-56. Midwest markets had ewes $28-41. Billings had ewes $53.50-39.

Colorado quoted yearling ewes going back to the country at $115 per head. Utah had mixed age ewes $80-90 per head.