Lamb Prices
Continue To
Move Higher

Lamb prices cautiously moved to higher levels again this week as carcass prices held their recent sharp advances and breakers showed less dislike for those heavy horses which are still quoted in some areas.

Feeder lambs were a little stronger in most areas, but lightweights did not find as much advance as heavies. Some heavyweight lambs outsold lights, whereas other areas quoted no difference in weights. Feedlots are still hesitant to gamble on light lambs.

Fat lambs were a couple of dollars higher with some as much as $20 higher in a catch-up mode. Newcrop and oldcrop lambs were frequently quoted together.

Price resistance began to settle in on the retail market at midweek with racks losing as much as $25. The carcass cutout value declined $6.11 to $217.64.

Slaughter ewes were a little stronger on Texas markets but a little softer in the Midwest. A total of 5361 ewes moved into Mexico last week.

Lamb and mutton passed for entry into the U.S. last week totaled 827 metric tons, or 1.8 million pounds, the equivalent of 41 percent of domestic production. That means there is still room for increased production in this country, and at profitable prices.

It is good to be on the top end of a sharply escalating market, but the real profit is in moving products out of storage or holding areas that were bought on a depressed market.

Rains in West Texas during the past few weeks have materially benefited grazing throughout the area, but continued hot south winds with temperatures over 100 degrees are returning the area to drouth conditions again.

San Angelo feeder lambs weighing 40-90 pounds brought $88-97. Fredericksburg quoted all weights of lambs $92-100. Goldthwaite feeders weighing 50-70 pounds sold for $89-100 and 75-100 pounds $90-105. Junction lambs of 55-80 pounds were $85-93.50. Midwest markets called 50-60 pound feeders $90-110, 60-80 pounds $87.50-105 and 80-100 pounds $90-98. Billings lambs at 50-60 pounds brought $94.25-96, 60-70 pounds $90.50-98 and 80-100 pounds $88.50-94.50.

Feeder lambs weighing 70-75 pounds and moving direct in West Texas were mostly $85-90, and Montana feeders weighing 115 pounds sold at $92. In California, 90-95 pound lambs made $90 and 100-110 pounds $86. Oregon had mixed fat and feeder lambs at $75-80.

San Angelo fat lambs weighing 95-120 pounds brought $95-99, and Goldthwaite had fats at $90-102. Midwest markets sold fat lambs for $97-108, teleauction lambs there $103.25.

Most fat lambs moving direct were on contracts. Wyoming reported 130-135 pound fats moving direct at $103.25, Oregon fats of 100-130 pounds were $82, and California moved 110-135 pounders at $90. Midwest lambs moved direct at $98-105. Nevada contracted 120-140 pounders for June and July delivery at $98-105.

Fleshy slaughter ewes in San Angelo brought $32-47.50 with fats stopping at $40. Midwest markets had ewes $20-29. Billings ewes sold from $24 to $38.