Rain Comes,
Lamb Prices
Move Higher

Good rains occurred across a large part of West Texas the last couple of weeks, and fall grazing prospects have made a real turnaround. It is too late for summer crops, but small grain seeding for winter pastures is looking up.

Fat and feeder lambs in Texas moved up a couple of dollars, although Midwest markets held mostly steady.

The East Coast carcass lamb meat trade was anywhere from steady to $10 higher. Quotes on heavies are now as much as $17 above lights. It hasn’t been but a couple of months since there was more than $40 difference in the opposite direction.

Carcasses weighing 55 pounds and down were quoted $159.50-163, 55-65 pounds $166.50-171.50 and 65 pounds and up $169.50-176.50.

Lamb and mutton passed for entry into the country last week totaled 1.25 million pounds, the equivalent of about 32.9 percent of domestic production.

Feeder lambs in San Angelo weighing 40-60 pounds brought $77-82, 60-80 pounds $75-82, a few $83-87, and 90-95 pounds $75-79. Fredericksburg lambs of 60-75 pounds were mostly $82-87. Goldthwaite lambs weighing 40-70 pounds moved at $74-79, 70-90 pounds $70-78, and 40-90 pound Junction lambs were $71-76.50. Feeders weighing 60-80 pounds in the Midwest brought $75-82 and 80-100 pounds $70-76. Billings sold 70-80 pound lambs at $83-89, 80-90 pounds $81-84.50, and 90-115 pounds $74.50-78.75.

West Texas direct prices on 75-85 pound feeder lambs ran $74-78. Recent sales in South Dakota had 75-85 pound lambs at $75-80, North Dakota lambs weighing 80-90 pounds made $76.50-78, and 100 pound Montana lambs were $73.12. Oregon feeders of 90-95 pounds brought $72 and 80-100 pounds $63. California feeders made $80 on 100-115 pounds.

Slaughter lambs weighing 100-120 pounds in San Angelo brought $80-87.50. Midwest markets quoted 100-110 pound fats $75-80, 110-120 pounds $80-83 and 120-140 pounds $83-86.50. Billings fat lambs moved for $75.50-79.25.

Fat lambs moving direct from Texas feedlots to packers brought $85-89, Colorado fats $82-87. The contract lambs last week averaged 130 pounds at $86.17 compared to 130 pounds and $83.57 a year ago. Oregon fats weighing 110-130 pounds brought $68, and 120 pound California lambs brought $80. Midwest fats moved direct at $82-84 on wooled and $77-80 on shorn.

Mixed fat and feeder lambs in Idaho weighing 110-115 pounds moved at $80-81.

Slaughter ewes in San Angelo were $27-44, fat heavies stopping at $37.50. Midwest ewes were $20-25, and Billings called ewes $22-30. Mexico took 5805 ewes last week.

San Angelo quoted yearling stock ewes $61-65 per head and babytooth ewes $58-60. Idaho yearling ewes weighing 125 pounds brought $125 per head and 150 pounds $133.