Rains Come
But Drouth
Still Here

Good rains occurred in a rather narrow strip of West Texas this week, and a "new" drouth will start this weekend. Around an inch of rain fell in the San Angelo area. Some areas still looking for their first good rain of the year.

Fat and feeder lambs showed a little stability this week despite some unevenness. Fat lambs were a higher in the Midwest and hardly tested elsewhere. Feeder lambs were a little weaker in the Midwest but fully steady in Texas.

Slaughter ewes showed little change, Mexico taking 7336 head last week.

The dressed trade was steady last week, although midweek boxed lamb cuts were unsettled and demand was light. Carcasses 55 pounds and up were $166.50, 55 pounds and down $161.50.

There were 952 metric tons of lamb and mutton passed for entry into the U.S. last week or 2.1 million pounds, which is equivalent to 49 percent of domestic production. Seventy-three 73 metric tons of goat meat also entered.

A price range of $75-85 took practically all of the fat lambs in the country, and as a rule the light end were below $80 and heavies above $80. The high for the week was $88 on direct lambs in South Dakota that weighed 170 pounds. Conversely, 110 pound lambs in Oregon brought $65.

Feeder lambs in San Angelo weighing 40-95 pounds brought $73-78.50, a few $80-81.50. Fredericksburg lambs weighing 60-75 pounds moved for $80-85, and 40-60 pound lambs at Junction made $70-73, 60-75 pounds $73-80. Midwest markets had 30-50 pound lambs $83-87, 60-80 pounds $75-85, and 80-100 pounds $70-80.

Feeder lambs moving direct in West Texas were mostly $74-78. South Dakota lambs 85 pounds brought $80, Wyoming had 100 pounders for $78, and Montana lambs weighing 85 pounds went at $83.50, 95 pounds $78. Oregon lambs of 90-100 pounds brought $65 and 110-115 pounds $75. Feeder lambs weighing 85 pounds in Utah made $73. Washington lambs scaling 90 pounds brought $70, and mixed fat and feeder lambs of 115-120 pounds in Idaho made $81.

Fat lambs weighing 100-115 pounds in San Angelo brought $80-85. Midwest markets had 100-110 pound fats at $78-80, 110-120 pounds $73-86, and 120-140 pounds $76-86.50. Midwest teleauction lambs made $80.25.

Fat lambs moving direct in West Texas brought $84-88. South Dakota quoted 145 pound fats $84 and 170 pounds $88. Oregon lambs of 110-130 pounds brought $65-70 and 130-135 pounds $75. Idaho fats weighing 120-140 pounds were $82.75-85, 120 pounders in Washington $75. California saw $75-80 on 110-145 pound fats. Midwest lambs moved direct at $82-85, and Colorado contract lambs averaged 136 pounds at $85.44 compared to 150 pounds and $75.64 last year.

Fleshy slaughter ewes in San Angelo sold from $26 to $44.50, similar ewes in Midwest markets $22-31.50.

San Angelo sold yearling stock ewes at $60-68 per head, and solidmouths at Goldthwaite were $53-71. Whiteface yearlings weighing 150 pounds made $135.