Lamb Prices
Tumble As
Imports Jump

Fat and feeder lamb prices as well as those on slaughter ewes moved sharply lower at most markets this week, and our foreign trading partners get some of the blame. Declines ranged from $2 to $4 for the most part, but extremes ranged up to $8 in some areas.

Fresh lamb meat imports last week reached a whopping 3.7 million pounds, the equivalent of 57 percent of that week’s domestic production. Just in time for the Easter demand, these lightweight carcasses will be easy to move while native feedlots are trying desperately to work out of an oversupply of heavyweight lambs.

Permit problems and holidays are causing difficulties with the process of moving slaughter ewes into Mexico. Last week’s exports were only 3581 head. Declines of $2-5 were registered around the country.

With most of the Texas special spring lamb sales over for the year, the supply this week fell off considerably. Country movement was limited throughout the nation.

Despite the weakness in the live market, dressed lamb held steady last week. In the distributive trade Wednesday, legs were higher for the Easter trade while most other cuts softened. Cutout values on lightweight carcasses moved up $2.18 to $171.26, while heavies edged up 47 cents to $164.71. Margins on lights are around $20 with heavies $24-34.

San Angelo feeder lambs weighing 35-60 pounds brought $85-105, 60-70 pounds $80-85, 70-80 pounds $77-82, and 80-105 pounds $73-75. Fredericksburg lightweight lambs were $90-100, killers taking some up to $110, heavies $74-82. Goldthwaite feeders weighing 40-65 pounds were $93-115, and Junction sold 80-100 pound lambs at $80-90. Midwest feeder lambs of 65-70 pounds brought $92-96, 60-80 pound oldcrops $72-75, and 80-100 pounds $68-72. Billings lambs scaling 87 pounds made $77, 95-105 pounds $64.50-66.50.

In San Angelo, 100-130 pound slaughter lambs sold for $58-65. Goldthwaite had 120-150 pound fats at $55-63.50. Midwest markets quoted fats $58.50-68 late, to $73.25 early. Virginia lambs were $79-102, and Pennsylvania lambs weighing 80-110 pounds made $80-105.

Recent sales on fat lambs moving direct from Texas feedlots to packers had 120-140 pounds at $68-73, 100-115 pound newcrops $75-77. Colorado lambs moving on contracts were $70-76 on 120-140 pounds, 140-160 pounds $64-70 and 160-180 pounds $57-64. Open sales on 150-170 pounders were priced at $65.50-67.50, but a 40-cent slide on weights over 140 pounds made those prices nearer $53.50-63.50. Some 130 pound lambs brought $74. California lambs weighing 125-150 pounds brought $62-66 with 40-cent slides over 130 or 135 pounds. Midwest fat lambs moving direct brought $64-66.

Fleshy slaughter ewes in San Angelo brought $35-57, fat ewes stopping at $44. Midwest markets had similar ewes $28-32.75, and Billings ewes were $38-44.

Goldthwaite called mixed age stock ewes $70 per head, and California ewe lambs weighing 145 pounds sold at $105 per head.