Lamb Prices
Turn Rosy;
Imports Up

Fat and feeder lamb prices turned higher by $2-3 in most trading areas this week despite the arrival of one of the largest weekly volumes of imported lamb meat this year.

Slaughter ewes were also a couple of dollars higher. Exports to Mexico reached 7572 head last week, and this week's count was 5615 through Tuesday. The year to date total is 274,708 head, up seven percent from 257,238 head the same period last year.

The meat trade was steady last week, the fifth week with the same carcass values. Weights 65 pounds down were $141.50-142 on the East Coast, over 65 pounds $144.50-145.

Lamb and mutton passed for entry into the country last week totaled 1331 metric tons or 2.9 million pounds, the equivalent of 57 percent of domestic production. Either there are a lot of lamb eaters in this country that domestic output is unable to satisfy, a lot of lightweight carcasses are going into storage for Christmas, or a lot of that imported lamb is going into the government purchase programs.

USDA reported that 89 percent of domestic lamb production was USDA graded this year; 92 percent graded choice, eight percent prime and 81 percent was yield grade 2-3.

San Angelo quoted 40-60 pound feeder lambs at $81-87, 60-80 pounds $77-82.50, a few up to $85, 80-90 pounds $73-77 and 90-100 pounds $69-75. Fredericksburg lightweight feeders were $83-88. In Goldthwaite, 50-85 pound feeder lambs brought $73-82, Junction had 50-80 pounders at $75-80, and Midwest markets held steady on feeders with 60-80 pounds $65-68 and 80-100 pounds $60-65.

Feeder lambs moving direct in West Texas were mostly $78-82 on 60-75 pounds. Recent sales in Colorado had 100 pound lambs at $60. South Dakota called 70 pound lambs $70 and 85 pounds $68. Wyoming moved 90 pound feeders at $64. Montana lambs weighing 90 pounds brought $65 and 110 pounds $57. In Idaho 100-110 pound feeders made $57-62.

San Angelo fat lambs of 90-125 pounds brought $70-77 and 125-140 pounds $65-70.50, and Goldthwaite quoted fat lambs $60-63. Midwest markets had a couple of dollars' spread between shorn and wooled offerings. St. Paul called wooled lambs $56-60, shorn $58-62. Sioux Falls wooled lambs brought $61-65.80 and shorn $62-66. The Midwest teleauction lambs brought $66.75.

Recent sales of fat lambs in Texas moving direct from feedlots to packers were $60-63, Colorado had fats $59-65, and 140-150 pound Idaho lambs brought $56-58. California lambs weighing 120-150 pounds sold for $59-60 with a few $61-64. Fat lambs moving direct in the Midwest made $57-58 on wooled, $60-62 shorn.

Fleshy slaughter ewes in San Angelo brought $40-50.50, and 111 head went at $52.50. Midwest markets quoted ewes $27-39.50.

San Angelo sent yearling ewes back to the country at $80 per head, solidmouth bred ewes $76. South Dakota had yearling ewes at $76-100 per head.