Lamb Prices
Appear To
Stabilize

Lamb prices appeared to stabilize somewhat this week after the second week of steady meat prices. Feeder lambs were anywhere from $5 lower to $5 higher. Fat lambs were mostly steady, though Midwest markets were lower each day.

Slaughter ewes were mostly steady with a little weakness in Texas markets. Mexico took 7677 ewes last week. The total for the year through Monday was 153,089 head, up four percent from 147,281 head for the same period last year.

Lamb carcasses on the East Coast last week were $161.50 on 55 pounds and down, $166.50 on 55-85 pounds and weights over 85 pounds were $151.50-166.50. Now some of those big horses are topping the market, and just a couple of months ago they were discounted about $40.

Lamb and mutton passed for entry into the United States last week totaled 782 metric tons or 1.7 million pounds, equal to about 44 percent of domestic production. The best available figures indicate that 62 million pounds of lamb have been imported so far this year, the equivalent of 45 percent of the 137 million pounds of domestic production. Those figures are being adjusted upward about 20-30 percent each week, however, which could add another 15-18 million pounds to the total and push imports to well over 50 percent of domestic production.

That leaves a lot of room for increased domestic production at theoretically the same prices that are now being paid.

Lamb and mutton in cold storage last month was down three percent at 16.1 million pounds.

Feeder lamb numbers are short and hard to find. In San Angelo this week 40-60 pound feeders brought $74-79, 60-100 pounds $73-78. Goldthwaite quoted 55-70 pound feeders $70-76.50, and 70-90 pounds $76-87. Junction lambs weighing 50-90 pounds were $67-73. Midwest markets had 60-80 pound feeders $75-85, 80-100 pounds $70-81.

Feeder lambs moving direct in West Texas brought $73-75. Recent sales in Montana had 90 pound lambs at $79-81. Idaho called mixed fat and feeder lambs of 115-120 pounds $85.

A few fat lambs in San Angelo weighing 105-135 pounds brought $81-85. Midwest markets reported fats of 100-110 pounds at $73-80, 110-120 pounds $76-84.50, and 120-135 pounds $80-87.50. Midwest teleauction lambs moved for $80-85.

Recent sales of fat lambs moving direct from Texas feedlots to packers brought $84-88, a few to $90. South Dakota quoted 160 pounds at $85, Idaho had 140 pound lambs at $86.25, and California moved 110-155 pounders for $80-82. Lambs moving direct in the Midwest brought $80-85, and formula lambs in Colorado last week averaged 139 pounds at $84.42 compared to 150 pounds at $76.65 a year ago.

Fleshy slaughter ewes in San Angelo brought $30-44, a few to $48. Similar ewes on Midwest markets were $22-34.50.

San Angelo called yearling stock ewes $70 per head, babytooth ewes $65 and mixed age ewes $46-56.