New Year
Lamb Prices
On Low Side

Feeder lambs were somewhere around $5 lower the first week of the new year while fat lambs were off nearly $10. Slaughter ewes were fully steady, instances as much as $3 higher.

The carcass lamb trade lost $5 during the two-week holiday period; carcass cutout values declined $8 last week and suffered another $4.50-7 loss this week. Cutout values on Wednesday were $178.91 on 65 pounds and down, $176.06 on heavies.

East Coast carlot lamb carcasses weighing 55 pounds and down were $163-163.50, 55-65 pounds $161-161.50, 65-75 pounds $157-157.50, 75-85 pounds $147-147.50 and 85 pounds and up $137-137.50.

Slaughter ewes are still supported by Mexico with 6958 head crossing the Texas border last week. The total number exported in 1997 was 277,163 head, a five percent increase over the 263,835 head in 1996.

West Texas pastures have been showing a little green lately with the emergence of spring weeds and grasses. Unseasonably warm weather and good rains recently have been a big help.

Newcrop lambs began to show up in several areas this week and the slaughter demand for them is good. In Pennsylvania lightweight lambs moved at $130-200. Several Texas auctions had similar lambs around $115-128.

The oversupply of heavy fat lambs is still a drag on the market with, it seems, no end in sight. Prices on heavies were several dollars off those of desirable weights.

Lamb and mutton in cold storage was 69 percent above a year ago at 16.5 million pounds.

San Angelo newcrop feeder lambs weighing 45-50 pounds sold for $124-128, 62 pounders $113. Oldcrop lambs weighing 50-60 pounds made $95-101 and 60-95 pounds $91-98. Newcrop lambs in Fredericksburg weighing 70-80 pounds brought $113-118, and some lightweight oldcrops $118-118. Junction lambs of 60-80 pounds were $96-100 and 85-95 pounds $90-95.50. Midwest markets quoted 60-80 pound feeders $95-100, 80-100 pounds $85-95.

Slaughter lambs in San Angelo sold for $80-85 and 125-140 pounders made $70-80. Junction fat lambs weighing 105-135 pounds brought $80-85. Midwest markets had shorn fats at $74-78, wooled $72.75-78 and some 150-170 pounds $68-69. Fats in Virginia were $83.75-102 and Pennsylvania newcrop lambs weighing 35-60 pounds went to killers at $130-200, 60-90 pounds $120-140. Oldcrop fats of 90-120 pounds were $94-110 and 120-140 pounds $90-95.

Fat lambs moving direct in West Texas recently brought $85-87. Colorado lambs moved on contracts at $78-83 with 150-160 pounders $75-79. Other direct lambs scaling 130 pounds brought $86. South Dakota lambs of 145-155 pounds made $75.50-77.50, and lambs moving direct in the Midwest brought $75.50-79.

Slaughter ewes in San Angelo sold from $42 to $56, similar ewes on Midwest markets $38-42.