Thanksgiving
Puts Damper On
Sheep Trading

The Thanksgiving holiday period put a real damper on sheep trading around the country this week. Practically all the Texas markets closed for the period, and movement elsewhere was equally limited.

All classes were steady in Midwest markets on short numbers. Only 12,000 head were slaughtered Monday, and with the holiday this is expected to set another new record low volume for any week.

Carcass lamb on the East Coast was steady last week at $165 on 65 pounds and down, $163 on 65-75 pounds and $160 on heavies. The situation there was called balanced in supplies, demand and movement.

Winter storms played havoc with livestock movement in the northern part of the nation last week and an unusually heavy West Texas snowstorm stymied movement of any kind early this week.

Good growing conditions in Texas wheatfields are offering abundant green grazing and lambs are enjoying the benefits.

The November 1 sheep inventory figures indicate short numbers on feed that will reach slaughter this year, down 11-29 percent. The number in the 65-85 pound range is up 21.5 percent, and they should reach market weight in January and February. That figure probably includes a large share of the lambs on small grain fields.

Last week in Goldthwaite, feeder lambs were as much as $10 higher with 65-80 pounders bringing $90-103. Feeder lambs on Midwest markets weighing 60-80 pounds brought $90-95, 80-110 pounds $83.50-90. Billings quoted lambs 60-65 pounds $93.50, 70-75 pounds $91.25-93.25, 80-90 pounds $91-94.75, 90-100 pounds $89.50-93 and 100-115 pounds $89.75-90. Virginia quoted 60-85 pound feeders $97-113.

Recent sales on feeder lambs moving direct in Wyoming had 115-120 pounds $82-83, and 32,000 lambs expected to weigh 95-115 pounds were contracted for current through January delivery at $90. Montana sold 90 pound feeders at $88-90. Oregon moved 75-90 pound lambs for $85-90 and 90-110 pounds $80-85.

Slaughter lambs in Goldthwaite weighed in at 90-120 pounds and moved at prices from $75 to $80.50. Midwest markets had fat lambs $82-85.50. In Virginia fat lambs weighing 90-125 pounds brought $75-77.75 and lower quality lambs expected to grade good and weighing 85-100 pounds made $90. Midwest teleauctions sold lambs for $82.25-84.25.

Fat lambs moving direct in Colorado weighed in at 120-145 pounds and brought $80-86.50. Nebraska had 132 pound lambs at $80. Wyoming lambs averaging 130-140 pounds made $83-85, and California fats of 125-145 pounds sold for $80-83. Midwest lambs moving direct brought $80-81.50 on 125-145 pounds.

Fleshy slaughter ewes in Goldthwaite brought $25-42.75. Midwest ewes moved from $27-33, and Billings ewes brought $30-36.50. Right at 3000 ewes crossed from Texas ports into Mexico Monday, bringing the year to date totals to 225,189 compared to 220,799 for the same period last year.

Goldthwaite had mixed age stock ewes $52.50-68 per head. Mixed age ewes in Texas brought $80-95, South Dakota ewes $70-86. Young ewes weighing 125-135 pounds in Billings brought $100.