Fat, Feeder
Lambs, Ewes
Sell Higher

Good demand was noted in the sheep and lamb trade this week, all classes tending to move upward. Slaughter lambs sold steady to a couple of dollars higher, feeder lambs were steady to as much as $5 higher, and slaughter ewes found strength in most places.

Carcass lamb held steady last week, the long spiraling downturn leveling out for only the third steady market since the decline started in early August. Prices are now $36-41 below early summer rates at $165 on 65 pounds and down, $163 on 65-75 pounds, and $160 on heavies.

The midweek distributive cut trade was uneven, but roughly steady while retail carcasses showed a little strength. The carcass cutout value edged off another 50 cents at $187.08 on 65 pounds and down, $187.58 on weights over 65 pounds.

Weekly slaughter rates have held in the upper 70,000 head range for the past nine weeks with only one week at 80,000 head. The peak for the fall has apparently passed. Annual slaughter will likely be 10 percent less than last year. From the number of cull ewes crossing the scales this year and heading for Mexico, there probably won’t be any room for an increased slaughter next year.

Feeder lambs were limited around the country again this week and the small supply found good demand, especially where green fields are available.

In San Angelo feeder lambs weighing 40-60 pounds brought $94-100, 60-80 pounds $90-97 and 80-95 pounds $85-89. Fredericksburg had light lambs at $95-100 and heavies $85-94. Goldthwaite sold 55-90 pound feeders for $85-97. Junction feeder lambs weighing 60-95 pounds brought $91-100. Feeder lambs on Midwest markets weighing 50-80 pounds brought $85-90, 80-100 pounds $82-87.50. Billings moved 60-70 pound feeders at $88.50-93.50, 70-80 pounds $92-93.75, 80-90 pounds $88.75-93.75, 90-100 pounds $86-93.75, and 100-115 pounds $84.50-84.75.

Feeder lambs moving direct in West Texas brought $85-87. Recent sales in Montana saw 70-75 pound lambs bring $90-92 and 90-100 pounds $83. In Washington 85-95 pound lambs were $92 and 78-80 pounds $83.

Slaughter lambs in San Angelo weighing 100-130 pounds brought $77-82, and Goldthwaite had 95-135 pound fats at $75.50-78.50. Midwest markets moved fat lambs for $75-80 with Sioux Falls a couple of dollars higher on Wednesday at $82.25-85.20. Billings fat lambs were $84-84.25. Midwest teleauction lambs brought $84-84.25.

Fat lambs moving direct in West Texas brought $87.50, and Colorado fats moved direct at $82.50-86.50. California called fat lambs $81-83, and they moved direct in the Midwest at $78-82.50.

Fleshy slaughter ewes in San Angelo sold from $35 to $48 with fats stopping around $43. Midwest markets traded ewes for $27-36, and Billings ewes were $21-27.25.

Yearling stock ewes in West Texas moved at anywhere from $84 to $121 per head, solidmouths $60-80. Goldthwaite had mixed age ewes $55-74. Two to six year-old bred ewes in Washington sold at $110 per head, and Wyoming sold ewe lambs weighing 85 pounds at $95 cwt.