Texas Feeder
Lamb Prices
Make Recovery

Feeder lambs in Texas made substantial price advances to recover most of the previous week’s losses. Midwest feeders suffered a little loss, due at least in part to the severe weather conditions there.

Slaughter lambs were generally steady where tested. Slaughter ewes were higher in Texas and a little softer in the Midwest.

El Niño weather has played havoc in many areas of the country this winter, with heavy rains on both coasts and recently with the late winter storm in the Midwest after a mild early winter. For the most part, however, moisture has avoided West Texas. Dryland wheat is offering little grazing and will probably not make much grain. Spring is almost here and pasture weeds are greening some now, but again, by not much.

Slaughter was up to 81,000 head last week, the second largest this year. With lamb and mutton imports last week at the equivalent of 49 percent of domestic production, the "down under" suppliers are going to capitalize on the U.S. lightweight Easter lamb demand while domestic producers are still turning out heavy products that are not really wanted at this time. Communication is lacking somewhere.

The distributive trade did show a little improvement for the upcoming Easter trade. Carcass cutout estimated values advanced $2.02 on lights at $166.19, and heavies were up $3.72 at $163.34.

Newcrop feeder lambs in San Angelo weighing 50-65 pounds brought $93-99.50, 65-80 pounds $87-93.50 and 80-90 pounds $82-85. A few remaining oldcrops weighing 60-90 pounds were $73-80.50, a few to $85, and 90-100 pounds brought $69-74. Fredericksburg light lambs sold anywhere from $93 to $107, heavies $80-90. Goldthwaite had 50-70 pound feeders at $95-113, 75-90 pounds $77-98.50, and 95-120 pounds $73-76. Midwest markets quoted 60-80 pound feeders $72-75 and 80-100 pounds $68-72. Billings lambs weighing 60-70 pounds were $89-90, 85-90 pounds $81-83.50, 90-100 pounds $76.50-78.50, and 100-115 pounds $68.50-77.

Little feeder lamb movement was noted in direct trade. Last week a few 90 pound lambs in West Texas made $75 and 100 pounds $70. Oregon had 125-130 pound feeders at $65 with a 30 cent per pound slide on anything over 130 pounds.

Slaughter lambs in San Angelo brought $66-73 and a few newcrop fats $77. Goldthwaite fats made $67-71.50. Midwest markets had lambs from $66 to $73.50.

Recent sales on Texas fat lambs moving direct from feedlots to packers were at $70-73 on shorn and $65-69 on wooled. In Colorado 130 pound fats made $72. Contract lambs weighing 135-160 pounds were $65-72, 160-180 pounds $59-64. The weekly average was $71.72, $25.72 below the same week a year ago, while the average weight was at 151 pounds, nine pounds heavier than a year ago. South Dakota fats were $65-67, and Wyoming had lambs at $69. California lambs of 115-125 pounds made $68-70 and 130-145 pounds $66-67. Midwest fat lambs moved direct at $67-70.

Slaughter ewes in San Angelo moved mostly to Mexico at $44-57, a few $59-60.50. Midwest ewes were $38-44.50.

Ewe lambs in San Angelo weighing 95-110 pounds brought $73.50-81.50 cwt. and 100-105 pounds were $75-77 per head. Mixed age ewes brought $84-90 per head and ewes with lambs $44-45 each. Billings had young bred ewes at $120-136 per head, solidmouth $90-105.