Lamb Prices
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Weakness

Fat lambs were still under price pressure this week, most areas losing a couple of dollars. Feeder lambs held mostly steady in the Midwest, but Texas lambs sold a couple of dollars lower. Slaughter ewes were stronger at most markets.

Weight continues to be the price determining factor on both fat and feeder lambs. Feeder lambs weighing up against 100 pounds are finding a hard go. Some areas are imposing a 30 cent per pound slide on fat lambs weighing over 130 pounds, other are starting at 125 pounds, and still others don’t dock them until 135. This coincides with sharp price breaks in the carcass trade starting at 75 pounds.

Heavy carcasses on the East Coast, those over 85 pounds, were at $142 last week, 75-85 pounds $152, 65-75 pounds $162, 55-65 pounds $166, and under 55 pounds $168. Despite those discounts the carcass cutout value still shows a slight price advantage on carcasses over 65 pounds. Cutout values increased $1.32 this week with strength on racks overcoming weakness on loins. Weights 65 pounds and down were $187.04, heavies $187.59. The distributive trade showed a slightly firmer trend at $185-200.

Mexico imported 5144 slaughter ewes through Texas ports last week. The year to date total through Tuesday is now 230,853 head compared to 213,365 last year.

In San Angelo feeder lambs weighing 40-60 pounds brought $96-98, 60-80 pounds $92-98.50, 80-90 pounds $89-93.50, and 90-105 pounds $85-89. Fredericksburg quoted most 60-80 pound lambs $100-108, and 75-95 pound lambs at Goldthwaite were $88-92. Junction called 75-80 pound lambs $85-91.

Midwest markets moved 60-80 pound feeders at $85-100 and 80-100 pounds $80-89. Billings lambs weighing 70-80 pounds brought $89.50-94.50, 80-90 pounds $85.50-97.50, 90-100 pounds $82.50-90, and 100-120 pounds $79-84.

Feeder lambs moving direct in West Texas were mostly $94-96 on weights near 75 pounds and $84-86 on near 90 pounds. Recent sales in Montana saw 90-95 pound lambs bring $90-92.

Fat lambs in San Angelo brought $78-85 and in Goldthwaite $75-81. Midwest markets sold fats for $74-81. Midwest teleauctions had 140 pounders at $77.75 and Billings fats were $69-75. In Virginia 105-120 pound lambs made $77, 85-105 pounds $82.75-87.75. Newcrop lambs weighing 30-60 pounds in Pennsylvania made $140-200.

Fat lambs moving direct in West Texas brought $85-87, Colorado fats $87.50. South Dakota lambs made $82-85 and California fats were $80-83. Midwest lambs moved direct at $78-80.

San Angelo termed fleshy slaughter ewes $45-55, Midwest markets were $33-43.50, and Billings ewes brought $35-40.

Babytooth stock ewes in San Angelo sold for $78-80 per head, and Goldthwaite had mixed age ewes $75-87.50.