Lamb Prices
Hold Steady
Once Again

Fat and feeder lambs held steady for the most part again this week as carcass prices remained unchanged. Carcass prices have been the same now for nine consecutive weeks.

With Easter just two weeks ahead, sheep and lamb slaughter last week at 84,000 head was the largest since the week before Easter last year, and the volume early this week indicates another increase. Last week’s lamb production was augmented by an additional 1115 metric tons, or 2.45 million pounds, passed for entry into the country. That’s the equivalent of 43 percent of domestic production. Goat meat imports came to 50 metric tons.

Slaughter ewes were steady this week. Exports to Mexico last week were 6900 head, bringing the year to date total to 60,151 head, up 15 percent.

Newcrop lambs are becoming more numerous and a fairly large share of those coming in now are going right into slaughter. Weights of 40-50 pounds are popular for the Easter market and they are bringing $95-110. That 20-pound carcass pencils out to $5.50 per pound.

There are indications that the wool market may have bottomed out. Prices on major foreign markets moved up 1-6 percent last week.

Newcrop feeder lambs in San Angelo weighing 40-60 pounds brought $90-99, 60-70 pounds $82-87, 70-90 pounds $80-86.50, and 90-100 pounds $78-82; 70-90 pound oldcrop lambs were $70-78, 90-100 pounds $69.50-74. Fredericksburg lambs weighing 50-70 pounds made $86-93, a few 40-50 pounds $105-106. Goldthwaite feeders made $67-73 on 75-115 pounds, 50-70 pound newcrops $85-95, and 70-110 pounds $79.50-87.50. Junction lambs of 60-80 pounds brought $70-76, 40-75 pound newcrops $89-98. Midwest markets had 60-80 pound lambs $70-75, 80-100 pounds $65-74.

Feeder lambs weighing 70-90 pounds moving direct in Texas were $74-76, newcrops 80-85 pounds $82-85. Recent sales in California had 105 pound feeders $75.

Fat lambs in San Angelo weighing 100-130 pounds brought $64-70, a few up to $74, 130-165 pounds $60-66, newcrops 95-120 pounds $73-76.50 and 40-50 pounds $105-110. Junction fats were $62-64, and Goldthwaite had fats $60-71. Midwest lambs were $60-66.50, and Midwest teleauction lambs made $61 on wooled and $64 on shorn.

Fat lambs moving direct from Texas feedlots to packers at 120-140 pounds made $68-71, 145-160 pounds $65-68. Colorado lambs at 130-155 pounds were $63.50-70, South Dakota 135-160 pound lambs $62-65. Arizona fats weighing 135 pounds made $65, and California sold 130-135 pound fats at $65-66.50, mostly with a 135 pound stop payment. Midwest fats moved direct at $62.

Fleshy slaughter ewes in San Angelo brought $35-52, a few to $53.75, heavy fat ewes stopping at $45. Midwest ewes made $25-37.75.

Babytooth stock ewes in San Angelo sold for $61-68 per head.