Feeder Lambs
Steady, Fats
Find Strength

Feeder lambs were limited in number around the country this week, and prices about steady. Slaughter lambs found a little strength on Midwest markets but were mostly steady elsewhere. Slaughter ewes were a couple of dollars higher in most places.

Slaughter ewe exports to Mexico amounted to 5395 head last week. The total for the year through Monday was 31,190 head, up 6.4 percent from last year.

Lamb and mutton passed for entry into the U.S. last week included 1145 metric tons or 2.5 million pounds, the equivalent of 53 percent of domestic production. In addition, 169,400 pounds of goat meat were imported last week.

Total 1998 imports of lamb and mutton came to 108 million pounds, the equivalent of 43.5 percent of domestic production. On a pound for pound basis, 30 percent of the lamb meat consumed in the U.S. last year was imported.

New Zealand lamb and mutton slaughter last week was over one million head compared to 71,000 in the U.S.

Feeder lamb movement is slack now. The supply of oldcrop lambs is running out and newcrop lambs haven’t started moving yet, for the most part. The San Angelo market was mostly ewes and goats, with very few lambs, and direct movement is almost at a standstill.

San Angelo feeder lambs weighing 60-80 pounds were $76-87, a few 61 pound newcrops $89. Fredericksburg lambs were mostly $82-88, a few 40-50 pound newcrops $91-92. Goldthwaite lambs weighing 60-80 pounds brought $60-75.50, a few newcrops of 50-70 pounds $80-86. Junction newcrop lambs weighing 70 pounds made $85, and 70-80 pound Billings feeders brought $72.50-75.50, 80-90 pounds $69.50-75, 90-100 pounds $68.50-73, and 100-115 pounds $62.50-68.50. Feeder lambs on Midwest markets at 60-80 pounds made $68-72, a few newcrops up to $82.75, 80-100 pounds $62-68.

Recent sales of feeder lambs in West Texas moving direct had 70-90 pounds $73-77, 110-pounders in Colorado $70.

Fat lambs in San Angelo weighing 100-130 pounds brought $65-72 and 130-140 pounds $62-65. Billings fats made $54-59.25. Midwest markets had fats $57-65.

Fat lambs weighing 120-135 pounds moving direct from Texas feedlots to packers made $66-68, a few $70. Colorado fats made $68-70. Formula lambs last week averaged 144 pounds at $67.67 compared to 156 pounds and $73.34 last year. Nebraska fat lambs were quoted at $61.50 on 150 pounds, and South Dakota had 160 pound fats at $64. Wyoming lambs weighing 140-150 pounds made $62.50 for February and March delivery. Montana fat lambs of 140 pounds were $62.50. In Utah 125-155 pound lambs made $65-67, and 120-150 pound California lambs were $66-67 generally with a 135 pound weight stop. Midwest lambs of 130-135 pounds moving direct brought $63.50-65, 140-150 pounds $60.50-62.

Fleshy slaughter ewes in San Angelo brought $30-44, a few to $48, fats stopping at $37. Midwest markets had ewes $27-34, and Billings ewes were $28.50-33.50.

San Angelo had a few mixed age ewes with lambs selling at $40.50-42.50 each, and 95 pound ewe lambs in Wyoming brought $75 cwt.