Lamb Prices
Edge Upward,
Meat Holds

Fat and feeder lamb prices moved slightly higher this week in spite of a steady meat trade. Slaughter ewes were higher in most areas.

Feeder lambs remain in short supply in most producing areas with little hope of numbers increasing soon. Fat lambs were also scarce on most markets.

The carlot carcass trade held steady on the East Coast with comments that the consist of the supply is in a good balance, not too many in any weight bracket. Carcasses weighing 65 pounds and down moved at $165, 65-75 pounds $163, and over 75 pounds $160.

On Wednesday the lamb carcass cutout value moved up around 50 cents to $1.50, with 65 pounds and down at $188.53, over 65 pounds $188.20.

A severe storm across the northern tier of states hindered all livestock movement this week, but slaughter rates were not affected much.

Lamb pelt prices appear to be stabilized and in relatively good position. Packer sort fall clips were quoted at $16-17, No. 1 pelts $14.50-16, No. 2 $11.50 and No. 3-4 at $6.

The Australian wool stockpile is now just above two million bales, down from near four million bales a couple of years ago, and still holding the throttle on any form of price increases.

In San Angelo this week feeder lambs were $3-5 higher, weights 50-85 pounds bringing $96-103, 85-100 pounds $85-91. Fredericksburg lambs weighing 60-65 pounds made $103-108. Goldthwaite feeder lambs 55-100 pounds were $81.50-93.50. Junction feeders weighing 55-60 pounds made $98-102. Feeder lambs weighing 55-60 pounds on Midwest markets were $89-91, 60-80 pounds $86-90 and 80-110 pounds $84-88. Billings lambs at 70-80 pounds brought $86-89.75, 80-90 pounds $87-93.25 and 90-100 pounds $84-88.

Feeder lambs moving direct in West Texas were mostly $88-92, and recent sales in New Mexico had 80-85 pound lambs $80. Colorado feeders weighing 80 pounds made $90.50. In Wyoming 80 pounders made $92 and around 6000 head expected to weigh 85-100 pounds were contracted at $90 for August and September delivery. Oregon lambs scaling 80-90 pounds made $84-90 and 90-100 pounds $80-85. In Montana 70-75 pound lambs brought $90-92, 90-100 pounds $80-87. Utah sold 94-105 pound feeders at $85-88. Idaho contracted mixed fat and feeder lambs expected to weigh 100-135 pounds for July through September delivery at $92.

Fat lambs in San Angelo brought $78-85, a few to $88. Goldthwaite had fats $75-78, and Junction $80-83. Midwest markets quoted fat lambs $77-86.

Recent slaughter lambs moving direct to packers in Colorado went at $81-86. Wyoming moved 135-140 pound fats for $80-83, and South Dakota had 130-140 pound lambs at $80-86. Idaho fats were $82. In California 120-145 pound lambs were $80-83 and in Washington 135 pound lambs made $80. Midwest lambs moving direct sold for $78-81.

Billings had young stock ewes weighing 115-130 pounds at $111 per head. San Angelo sold young ewes at $65-71 per head.

Fleshy slaughter ewes in San Angelo brought $40-49.50. Midwest markets had similar ewes at $27-35.25, and Billings sold ewes for $28-35.50.