Lamb Prices
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Sharp Decline

Fat and feeder lamb prices continued their free-fall this week with most declines on fats in the $5-12 range and feeders $5-8 off. Apparently the bottom of the barrel hasn’t been reached yet.

San Angelo and several other Texas markets were closed this week in observance of the Independence Day holiday.

Slaughter ewes sold mostly steady. Exports to Mexico last week totaled 4800 head. The year to date total reached 135,776 on Tuesday, 13 percent fewer than the 155,657 during the same period last year.

Sharp declines were registered again on carcass lamb last week. Weights 55 pounds and down lost $19, middleweights were $14 off and weights over 85 pounds were $10-29 lower. Weights of 55-85 pounds are now $176.50-177, lightweights $5 below that at $171.50-172, and heavies $15 off the top at $161.50-162.

Retail cut prices have shown some tremendous price fluctuations during this hectic last two months. Trimmed loins went from $325 to $525, hotel racks from $330 to $550, chucks from $85 to $165. Legs, on the other hand, moved very little, going from $150 to $180. Loins and racks are back to $495, chucks $145 and legs $155. Some cheaper cuts were unchanged.

On Wednesday the carcass cutout value dropped $11.80 to $198.81, down $25 in the last three weeks.

The weekly slaughter at 63,000 head was some six percent less than the same week a year ago. The first six months of the year are down only 2.1 percent at 1,865,000 head. At year’s end the kill should be near a five percent reduction from last year.

Lamb and mutton inspected for entry into the U.S. amounted to 1161 metric tons last week, or 2,554,200 pounds. That is the equivalent of 60.8 percent of domestic production.

Late last week, Goldthwaite quoted 55-80 pound feeder lambs $80-88, 35-45 pounds $70-81.50. Junction on Monday sold 45-85 pound feeders at $77.50-82, and Midwest markets this week sold 50-80 pound feeders for $75-80, 80-100 pounds $70-75. Billings moved 60-70 pound lambs at $90-95, 70-90 pounds $86.50-93, 909-100 pounds $80-85, and 100-115 pounds $77-82.50.

Feeder lambs moving direct in West Texas weighing 70-85 pounds brought $76-80. Recent sales in Montana had 80 pound lambs at $85, and in Washington 98 pounders were $83.

Goldthwaite fat lambs weighing 90-130 pounds brought $72.50-80. Billings sold 137 pound fats for $77. Midwest markets moved fats at $73-80, some oldcrops at $62, and teleauction lambs weighing 120-128 pounds $72-80.

Fat lambs in South Dakota weighing 125-130 pounds recently moved at $92-96. Oregon and Nevada had 120-130 pound lambs $90, and in Washington 120 pound lambs were $89. California called 120-130 pound lambs $89-92. Fat lambs moving direct in the Midwest this week were $78-80.

Fleshy slaughter ewes in Goldthwaite brought $25-37.50, Billings had ewes $25.50-35.50, and Midwest markets were $20.25.

Goldthwaite sold yearling stock ewes at $82.50 per head.