Fat, Feeder
Lamb Prices
Bounce Up

Feeder lamb prices turned higher around the country this week, some prices as much as $5 higher than the week before Thanksgiving. Lightweight carcasses heading for the holiday table took away some of the better lambs, and feedlots had to compete against that demand.

Slaughter lambs were little changed, although Sioux Falls was $1-3 higher on Wednesday. East Coast lamb carcass prices held steady on all weights last week. Lightweight carcasses in California were a little softer.

Slaughter ewes sold $3-5 higher in Texas and were steady to $2 higher in the Midwest.

Sheep and lamb slaughter was only 57,000 head last week. Year to date it is running about three percent below a year ago and is expected to total around 3.7 million head this year, another record low. That is 35 percent below the 1990 slaughter volume. Slaughter ewe exports are running around six percent more than a year ago.

Pelt prices are still in limbo, mostly $1-2 with a few fall pelts up to $4. With no clear market value, buyers continue to pick and choose from an unlimited supply of both domestic and imported pelts. The global market remains weak with the most active period of the trading season over and gone.

In San Angelo, feeder lambs weighing 40-60 pounds brought $80-87, 60-70 pounds $78-82, 70-90 pounds $72.50-77, a few to $81 and 90-100 pounds $70-75. Fredericksburg lightweight lambs were $80-88 and heavies $70-75. Junction sold feeders 40-70 pounds $75-85. Midwest markets quoted 60-80 pound feeders $65-70, 80-105 pounds $57-65. Faith, S.D. had 70-80 pound feeders $69-70.25, 80-90 pounds $66.25-69.75, and 100-110 pounds $63.50-64.

Feeder lambs moving direct were limited during the holiday period, a few in West Texas weighing 55-70 pounds at $78-80.

Slaughter lambs in San Angelo weighing 95-120 pounds brought $70-75, a few up to $79, weights 125-145 pounds $65-67. Junction fats of 90-125 pounds made $60-65, and Midwest markets had fat lambs $52-60. On Wednesday at Sioux Falls, shorn lambs brought $59-62.60 and wooled offerings $57.10-59.50. Midwest electronic sale lambs weighing 128 pounds made $59.75 on shorn and $56.75 wooled.

Recent sales in West Texas had fat lambs moving direct at $60-63, Idaho sold 130-140 pound fats for $56, and California lambs of 120-150 pounds brought $59-60. Midwest lambs moving direct were $56-58. Colorado lambs moving to packers on contract averaged $62.16 and 140 pounds compared to a year ago, when they were $81.61 at 137 pounds.

Fleshy slaughter ewes in San Angelo brought $38-48, similar ewes on Midwest markets $22-34.50. A total of 6500 ewes crossed into Mexico last week.

Faith, S.D., had yearling ewes going back to the country at $76 per head.