Feeder Lambs
Strong, Fats
A Bit Softer

Lightweight feeder lambs found a little daylight this week despite lower fat lamb prices that tended to weaken heavyweight feeders.

Fat lambs were a couple of dollars lower following the $5 lower carcass market late last week. East Coast lightweight carcasses were quoted at $146.50-147, 55-65 pounds $149.50-150, 65-75 pounds $151.50-152 and over 75 pounds $151.50.

Lamb and mutton passed for entry into the United States moved up to 944 metric tons last week, or 2.1 million pounds and the equivalent of 44 percent of domestic production. Lamb cuts in a local chain store were displayed beautifully. A prospective buyer admiring the display asked if the lamb was American or imported. The store spokesman said both the lamb and goat meats were from local slaughtering plants. What a beautiful missed opportunity for Texas producers to blow their own horn.

Lamb pelt prices are still stuck on hold with quotes of $2-5 on fall pelts, but trading is at the bottom of the quote.

There was a little good wool news from Australian last week, the eastern market indicator moving up 19A cents per kilo and more than 90 percent sold. And New Zealand was higher for the second consecutive week.

San Angelo feeder lambs this week weighing 40-70 pounds brought $70-78, 70-90 pounds $67-72, and 90-100 pounds $65-68.50. Fredericksburg lambs of 50-60 pounds made $72-80 and 70-85 pounds $65-70. Goldthwaite sold 60-80 pound feeders at $70-73.50, and Junction quoted 60-70 pound lambs $68-75. Midwest markets moved 60-80 pound feeders at $60-62 and 80-100 pounds $55-60. Billings feeders weighing 60-80 pounds brought $69-75.50, 80-90 pounds $66.75-73.25, 90-100 pounds $61.50-66.50, and 100-120 pounds $60.50-61.75.

Feeder lambs moving direct in West Texas weighing 60-75 pounds made $68-72, heavies down to $65. Recent sales in North Dakota had 79 pound lambs at $61.70, Wyoming lambs of 62-65 pounds brought $70, 90-100 pounds $62-64, and 80-85 pound Montana feeders were $65-70. Idaho called 105 pound lambs $62, and 90 pound Washington feeders moved at $60.

Fat lambs in San Angelo scaling 100-135 pounds brought $64.50-69, Goldthwaite $60-67 on a few fats. Midwest markets quoted fats weighing 110-120 pounds at $54-56 and 120-150 pounds $56-60.

Fat lambs of 125-145 pounds moving direct in the Midwest brought $60-61. Idaho and Washington 120-140 pounders made $62.50, and 120-140 pound California fats brought $62-65.

Fleshy ewes in San Angelo were $27-41.25 with fats stopping at $36. Midwest markets had ewes $18-26, and Billings ewes went to killers at $24-28.25. A total of 6249 ewes crossed into Mexico last week through Texas ports.

Ewe lambs weighing 75-90 pounds in a few mountain states brought $75-76 per cwt., yearlings in Texas $65-90 per head. Colorado yearlings made $120 per head.