Lamb Trade In
Rags To Riches
Confused State

Many lamb producers are doubtless benefitting from recent sky-high price jumping, but there are sure a lot of losers who sold on a very depressed market a little before it went wild. The winners should remember that a market as small as this one has become can go down just as fast as it goes up.

Carcass prices last week took another big jump, the second in as many weeks. In just a few short weeks, lamb meat has moved from the lowest prices in six years to the highest in two years and only a few dollars away from all-time record highs. Prices now are $59-77 higher than two weeks ago and as much as $84 above three weeks ago.

The Wednesday lamb carcass cutout value jumped $35.73-37.43 with all weights at $223.75. Buyers were grabbing it before it goes higher.

Lamb imports continue to flood the market, many doubtless bought cheap and now selling high. A total of 1036 metric tons were inspected for entry last week, all from Australia and New Zealand, the equivalent of 60 percent of domestic production.

Fat lamb prices also moved up in crazy fashion. Midwest markets were $7-15 higher Monday, as much as $12 higher on Tuesday and $3 higher on Wednesday, top prices around $22 above a week ago. There weren’t many fats in San Angelo this week, but prices were up $10-20.

Feeder lamb buyers are still hesitant to jump in on the high prices. Midwest prices are about $10-15 above two weeks ago and Texas markets mostly $8 up, some to around $12 up.

Slaughter ewes were a couple of dollars up. Exports to Mexico last week totaled 4625 head. Year to date exports total 121,685, up five percent from last year’s 115,670 head.

Sheep and lamb slaughter this month is running 18-24 percent below year ago levels and the year to date volume is 1.5 percent below last year.

It appears the heavyweight lambs have about been liquidated. Colorado contract lambs last week had an average weight of 156 pounds compared to 155 the same week a year ago.

San Angelo feeder lambs weighing 40-90 pounds brought $85-94, most Fredericksburg lambs $90-97. Goldthwaite called 50-75 pound feeders $89-98.50 and 80-100 pounds $89-96. Midwest markets moved 60-80 pound feeders at $95-105 and 80-100 pounds at $90-95.

West Texas feeder lambs weighing 55-65 pounds and moving direct were $83-86. Recent sales in Montana had 85-90 pound lambs at $90-92. California had feeders of 90-115 pounds were $85-90.

San Angelo fat lambs were scarce, but a few brought $96-97. Midwest markets had lambs early at $88-106 with Wednesday prices $102.50-108.50.

Recent sales of fat lambs moving direct to packers had West Texas lambs at $80-85 and newcrops $87-90. Kansas and Oklahoma both quoted fats at $87-88, and South Dakota called lambs $82-83. California had mixed fat and feeder lambs weighing 115-120 pounds at $91. Midwest direct lambs were $94-103.

Fleshy slaughter ewes in San Angelo brought $28.50-45 with fats $37 and down. Midwest ewes made $20-28.

California moved solidmouth stock ewes at $95 per head. Goldthwaite yearling ewes made $78, and San Angelo had solidmouth ewes $60-65.