Lamb Prices
Higher, Lamb
Imports Up

Lamb prices moved higher on both fats and feeders this week despite the second largest weekly volume of lamb imports to reach the country this year.

Lamb and mutton passed for entry into the United States totaled 3.2 million pounds last week, the equivalent of 64 percent of domestic production. Most of that would be from lightweight animals, and lightweight carcasses on the East Coast moved up $5. The upcoming holiday fare must be favoring lamb.

It’s ironic to see an increased volume of lamb and higher prices when beef cattle are in a nosedive and hog producers are losing around $50 per head. Carcass cutout values show lamb at $185.59, beef at $97.69 and pork $36.06.

Mexico is doing its part in easing our burden and loading up for the holidays. They are currently importing around 3000 hogs and 1500 ewes per day through Texas ports.

Lamb carcasses weighing 75 pounds and down on the East Coast were steady to $5 higher last week, over 75 pounds steady to $3 lower. Weights under 55 pounds were $144.50-147, 55-75 pounds $144.50-145 and over 75 pounds $141.50-144.50.

Slaughter lambs were steady to $3 higher around the country with San Angelo going $1 lower. Feeder lambs were steady to $5 higher. Slaughter ewes were a couple of dollars higher in Texas and about steady in the Midwest.

San Angelo feeder lambs weighing 40-60 pounds brought $83-89, 60-70 pounds $78-86, 70-80 pounds $77-85, 80-70 pounds $74-77, and 90-100 pounds $70-75. Fredericksburg had 60-85 pound lambs at $80-89 and some lightweight newcrop lambs went to packers at $95. Goldthwaite feeders weighing 65-85 pounds were $81-83.50. Midwest markets called 60-80 pound lambs $70-76, 80-100 pounds $64-70. Faith, S.D. moved 50-60 pound feeders at $83, 60-70 pounds $79-82.50, 70-80 pounds $75.50-77.50, 80-90 pounds $70.25-77.75, and 70-100 pounds $65.75-72. Billings lambs of 55-70 pounds were $75.50-79, 70-90 pounds $71.25-78.50, 90-100 pounds $69-74 and 100-120 pounds $66.25-71.

Feeder lambs moving direct in West Texas were mostly $75-82 on 65-85 pounds. Montana sold 85-100 pound feeders at $65 per head, and 105 pound Nevada lambs turned at $70.

Slaughter lambs in San Angelo weighing 90-120 pounds brought $69-75 and 125-140 pounds $65-70. Goldthwaite had 95-130 pound fats $65-70. Midwest markets moved fats at $57-67, up to $69 in Sioux Falls Wednesday. The Midwest Teleauction sold fats at $62.75-65.75.

Recent sales of fat lambs moving direct from feedlots to packers in West Texas made $68-70. Mountain states moved fats for $62-66, a few in Nevada and Califoria $69-70.50. Midwest lambs brought $60-64.

Fleshy slaughter ewes in San Angelo made $40-52, a few to $54. Midwest markets quoted ewes $28-34 and Billings $32.50-36.

Mixed age breeding ewes in San Angelo made $71.50-77, and yearlings in the Mountain states were $117.50-118.