Fat, Feeder
Lamb Prices
Up And Down

Fat and feeder lamb prices were a couple of dollars higher on Midwest markets, but some Texas markets found prices a little lower. It was more a leveling out than a true trend.

Dressed lamb prices were unchanged, as they have been most of the year. Lightweight carcasses on the East Coast topped out at $162 and heavies at $141.50. Cutout values last week moved up slightly with lightweights $181.76 and heavies $181.92.

Slaughter ewes were generally higher around the country. Ewe exports to Mexico last week totaled 5380 head. The year to date number on Monday was eight percent more than a year ago at 46,901 head.

Lamb and mutton passed for entry into the U.S. last week totaled 1136 metric tons or 2.5 million pounds, the equivalent of 48 percent of domestic production. So far this year, imported lamb and mutton is up 20 percent from a year ago at 15 million pounds, or 40 percent of domestic production.

Wooled slaughter lambs are now bringing several dollars less than shorn lambs due to the lack of market for pelts. With pelts only worth $1-3 each if you can find a buyer, and wooled pelts weighing 5-6 pounds more than shorn, that is a couple of dollars per head packers are trying to save.

With the current cheap price on wool, buyers can be very selective, and poorly put up wools may soon be heading into the sponge market for cleaning up oil spills and other mulch-like duties.

The Texas sheep country remains in a serious drouth. With no rain and above normal-temperatures, vegetation is in a critical fire hazard situation, and small grain fields are suffering.

In San Angelo, 60-70 pound feeders brought $78-82, 70-90 pounds $73-80 and 90-100 pounds $70-75.50; newcrop lambs weighing 40-70 pounds made $85-93 and 70-90 pounds $83-87. Fredericksburg had newcrop lambs 50-70 pounds $85-93 and 70-90 pounds $78-85. Goldthwaite lambs of 70-100 pounds were $69-80 and newcrops 50-70 pounds $83-96, 80-115 pounds $79-88. Junction lambs scaling 60-95 pounds made $67-81, newcrops 50-70 pounds $85-89. Midwest markets had 60-80 pound lambs $70-75, 80-100 pounds $65-70.

Newcrop feeder lambs weighing 70-80 pounds moving direct in West Texas brought $83-86, oldcrops 85-95 pounds $65-70.

San Angelo sold 100-135 pound fat lambs from $65 to $72, 110-150 pound lambs in Goldthwaite made $62-66, and Junction had 95-145 pound lambs at $64-70. Midwest markets quoted fats $59-67.25.

Recent sales of fat lambs moving direct from Texas feedlots to packers had 120-135 pounds at $68-71 and 145-160 pounds $65-68. Colorado fats weighing 130-155 pounds brought $62.50-70, and 135 pound Wyoming fats were $68.25. Idaho moved 135 pound lambs for $66. California fats of 130-145 pounds were $67-70, most with a 135 pound weight stop. Fat lambs moving direct in the Midwest brought $62-64.50.

Fleshy slaughter ewes in San Angelo brought $40-52.50, similar ewes in Midwest markets $25-34.