Fat, Feeder
Lambs Steady,
Ewes Higher

Very little price change occurred this week on feeder lambs, other than a couple of Texas auctions that moved up a couple of dollars. Fat lambs were also mostly steady. Slaughter ewes found prices sharply higher in Texas and moderately higher in the Midwest.

The dressed lamb trade showed little movement; cuts were a little stronger and the cutout value moved up a couple of dollars. The margin between East Coast carcass values and cutout values is about $26, or about $4 less than six weeks ago when current carcass prices were established. It is still four weeks until Easter, and with cold storage supplies down sharply there is plenty of time and room for a price boost.

Lamb and mutton imports last week totaled 752 metric tons or 1.65 million pounds, the equivalent of 31 percent of domestic production. The year to date volume is running about two percent above a year ago.

Pelts are still having a hard time finding a decent outlet. Buyers from Turkey are in the market, but are offering prices 80-90 percent below those of a year ago.

Slaughter ewe exports to Mexico last week totaled 6684 head. The year to date total through Monday was 42,311 head, up about five percent from last year.

Newcrop lambs are beginning to move and prices are about $10 above comparable weight oldcrops. Killers are taking some of those high-priced lambs, but feeders are getting the bulk.

San Angelo oldcrop feeder lambs weighing 45-65 pounds brought $78-83, 70-90 pounds $73-81 and 90-100 pounds $70-75.50. Newcrop lambs of 40-70 pounds were $86-94 and 70-90 pounds $83-89. Fredericksburg called 50-70 pound newcrop lambs $90-99 and 70-90 pounds $80-90. Goldthwaite lambs made $70-87 on 65-85 pounds, newcrops 65-75 pounds $93-96.50. Junction lambs weighing 60-80 pounds brought $70-84. Midwest markets moved 60-80 pound feeders at $70-75, 80-100 pounds $64.50-70. Billings feeders made $68-73.50 on 70-80 pounds, 80-90 pounds $69-73 and 100-110 pounds $66-69.

Lambs moving direct were in limited numbers. Some recent sales in West Texas had 70-90 pound lambs $72-75, 90-100 pounds $70-72.

Fat lambs in San Angelo weighing 100-130 pounds brought $65-71, and Goldthwaite had similar lambs in a range of $64-72. Midwest markets moved fats at $59-67.30, Billings fat lambs were $60-63.50, and Faith, S.D. $64.50-65.25.

Fat lambs moving direct from Texas feedlots to packers made $65-71, Colorado fat lambs $62.50-70. South Dakota fats weighing 150-160 pounds made $63-65, Wyoming had 140 pound lambs $67.50, and Utah moved 125-130 pounders at $66. California fats weighing 130-145 pounds made $68-70, most with a 135-pound weight stop. Midwest fat lambs moved direct at $65-66.

Fleshy slaughter ewes in San Angelo brought $39.50-51.50 with heavy fats stopping at $46. Midwest ewes moved from $20-33.75. Billings ewes made $32-36.

Ewes with lambs in San Angelo went back to the country at $40.50-56 each.