Lamb Meat
Suffers
More Loss

Heavy lamb carcasses took another hit last week and weight continues to be a critical factor. Carcasses under 55 pounds were $2 higher at $168 and 55-65 pounds were steady at $166. Weights of 65-75 pounds were $4 lower at $162, 75-85 pounds $4 lower at $152, and those over 85 pounds $6 off at $142.

So far this year, sheep and lamb slaughter is down 8.3 percent but lamb and mutton production is down only 4.8 percent. With the number of heavy lambs being slaughtered, feedlots appear to be putting more weight on lambs than is realistic, especially with those sharp discounts. But slaughter continues at a reduced rate, and it isn’t fast enough to eliminate the heavies. Lambs on feed continue to put on weight as they are waiting to be slaughtered. If slaughter rates were bumped up 10,000 or 15,000 head per week, the backlog would soon be eliminated.

Despite the discount on heavy carcasses and heavy lambs, cutout values continue to show a slight price advantage on heavy carcasses. On Wednesday both weight brackets were up 88 cents with heavies at $186.26 and lights $185.71.

San Angelo feeder lambs weighing 40-60 pounds brought $97-100, 60-80 pounds $94-100, 80-90 pounds $90-95 and 90-100 pounds $86-90. Fredericksburg lambs were mostly $100-109 with most of those over $105 being blackfaces. Goldthwaite lambs weighing 50-80 pounds brought $90-95.

In the Midwest markets 45-55 pound lambs brought $94-95, 60-80 pounds $87-92 and 80-100 pounds $82-87.50. Newell, S.D., sold 60-70 pound feeders for $111-123.50, 70-80 pounds $101.50-111. Billings quoted 55-60 pound offerings $87, 65-80 pounds $89-94.50, 80-90 pounds $85.50-94.75, 90-100 pounds $79-85, and 100-110 pounds $75.50-81.

Feeder lambs moving direct in West Texas brought $92-96 on 70-85 pounds, 65-75 pounds $100-102 and 90-95 pounds $85. Recent sales in Nebraska saw 96 pound lambs making $81. Wyoming moved 75-80 pound feeders for $98-99 and 85-100 pound feeders in Montana brought $100, 105 pounds $85.

Fat lambs in San Angelo brought $78-83, in Goldthwaite $78-85. Midwest markets sold wooled lambs $77-84 and shorn lambs $80-85.25, mostly $83 and down late. Midwest teleauctions quoted wooled lambs $78-82.75 and shorn $80-84.75.

Slaughter lambs moving direct from Texas feedlots to packers brought $86-87. Colorado sold lambs weighing 135-140 pounds at $89.50, formula lambs bringing $78-85 on 130-150 pounds. Lambs there are $6 below the same week a year ago with weights up nine pounds. South Dakota lambs moved direct at $84-87. Midwest direct lambs brought $80-83.40.

Fleshy slaughter ewes in San Angelo brought $47-54, a few to $57, fat offerings stopping at $48. Midwest ewes were $30-38.50 and in Billings $34-38.

San Angelo sold solidmouth stock ewes for $75-81 per head, two and three year-olds $89. South Dakota yearlings weighing 150 pounds moved at $148, and Wyoming yearling ewes to three year-olds were also near the $1 per pound mark at $135-140.