Fat, Feeder
Lamb Prices
About Steady

Slaughter and feeder lambs were fairly steady across the country this week, just a little weaker in San Angelo and firm in Fredericksburg, otherwise steady. Slaughter ewes were steady except in San Angelo, where they were about $2 lower.

The dressed trade was somewhat erratic. A few carcasses under 40 pounds were around $10 higher at $172.50, 40-45 pounds $3-10 higher at $162-172.50, 45-55 pounds $1 higher at $160-165.50, 55-60 steady to $3 higher at $160-164.50, 60-85 pounds steady to $3 higher at $160-165.50, and over 85 pounds $1 lower at $160-163. The weighted averages on those over 45 pounds ran from $162.70 to $163.59.

The average slaughter weight is now around 11 pounds below a year ago, which means there is a better distribution of weights and the heavyweights are about gone. Weekly slaughter is also running above a year ago, though lamb and mutton production is down about four percent.

There were 8769 slaughter sheep exported to Mexico last week, including 1400 lambs. The year to date volume is up around 28 percent at 261,613 head.

Roughly 1168 metric tons, or around 2.6 million pounds of lamb and mutton were imported the week ending June 6, bringing the year to date volume to 39,467 metric tons, around 11 percent more than a year ago.

San Angelo quoted 40-60 pound feeder lambs $82-84, 60-70 pounds $76.50-81 and 70-90 pounds $75-77. Fredericksburg lambs 40-70 pounds were $80-90.50, 70-90 pounds $75-80. Goldthwaite feeders 60-80 pounds made $74-81. Junction lambs 50-70 pounds were $75-80 and 70-90 pounds $69-74. Midwest markets quoted 40-60 pound feeders $83-87, 60-80 pounds $65-82 and 80-100 pounds $55-75. Newell, S.D. had 50-70 pound feeders at $78.50-81.25, 70-80 pounds $74-78 and 80-110 pounds $73-76.50. Billings lambs 55-60 pounds made $69-72.50, 60-70 pounds $68.50-76, 70-90 pounds $72-79 and 90-120 pounds $73.50-79.

Feeder lambs moving direct in West Texas were $75-78. Wyoming called 90-95 pound feeders $80. Montana moved 90-100 pound lambs at $81 and contracted 100 pounders at $77 for September delivery. Idaho lambs 100-110 pounds went for September delivery at $81. In Colorado mixed fats and feeders weighing 100-120 pounds brought $82.50.

Slaughter lambs 90-120 pounds in San Angelo were $68-77.50 and some 70-90 pounds $71.50-80. Fredericksburg had 40-80 pound lambs at $80-90, and Goldthwaite fats 90-120 pounds brought $65-68.50, 60-85 pounds $70-75. Midwest markets sold shorn lambs for $81.25-84.75 and wooled 100-120 pounds $70-79.25 with 120-145 pounds $74-83.

San Angelo had fat slaughter ewes at $26-33, lean kinds $36-46.50. Midwest markets moved ewes for $20-26.

San Angelo solidmouth stock ewes were $55 per head and ewe lambs 79 pounds $80 cwt. Fredericksburg ewes 80-130 pounds made $51.50-75.