Feeder Lambs
Weaken, Fats
Get Stronger

Feeder lambs were a little weaker in most areas this week as feedlots tried to get back into the profit column. Fat lambs showed some strength, particularly in the Midwest, on the prospects of a stronger meat trade late this week.

The dressed lamb trade last week was steady with five definite price categories. Top lightweights were $162 and heavies $135. Carcass cutout values took a severe jolt with declines of $13.63 and $13.50 due to sharp discounts on legs. Lightweight carcasses are valued at $173.20 and heavies $173.75, or about $20 less than just before Easter.

There were 924 metric tons of lamb and mutton passed for entry into the U.S. last week, or 2.03 million pounds, the equivalent of 45 percent of domestic production. There was also a quarter-million pounds of goat meat passed for entry.

The old ewe market was fairly good this week after 5633 head crossed into Mexico last week. Year to date exports are up 15.3 percent. In San Angelo fat, heavy ewes were $35-46 while fleshy lightweights were $45-60.

Sheep and lamb slaughter last week at 65,000 head was down 20 percent from a year ago, and year to date slaughter at 1.1 million head is down 7.6 percent.

It is still hard to find much interest in replacement ewes, most bringing just a couple of dollars above killer prices.

Feeder lambs in San Angelo weighing 40-60 pounds brought $87-90, 60-80 pounds $83-90, a few up to $93, and 80-105 pounds $82-86. A few oldcrops weighing 80-95 pounds were $70-75, 100-115 pounds $65-70. Fredericksburg lambs of 50-80 pounds were $85-90, and in Goldthwaite 50-75 pound lambs brought $87-98, 80-100 pounds $80-87. Junction feeders scaling 50-90 pounds made $82-91. Midwest markets had 50-80 pound feeders $80-100, 70-100 pound oldcrops $63.50-75. Billings made $60-65 on 80-85 pound lambs, $55.50-60 on 95-110 pounds.

Feeder lambs weighing 80-85 pounds and moving direct in West Texas brought $82-87. California had 100-120 pounders at $69-72 with slides starting at 115 pounds and weight stops at 120 pounds. Arizona feeders weighing 125 pounds made $72.

Fat lambs of 100-130 pounds in San Angelo were $64-72, 130-150 pounds $62-66, 100-115 pound newcrops $72-77. Goldthwaite fats made $60.50-66.50. Midwest markets had shorn lambs $62-70.50, wooled $60-68; Midwest teleauction shorn lambs turned at $66 and newcrops made $69.

Fat lambs weighing 120-140 pounds moving direct from Texas feedlots to packers made $66-70, 140-160 pounds $63-66. South Dakotamade $62-65 on 135-140 pound fats, 150-160 pounds $60-62. California fats of 130-140 pounds were $64. Midwest direct lambs made $62-64 on 120-150 pounds. Colorado contracts on 130-160 pound fats were $65-70, 160-170 pounds $65. The previous week's average was 150 pounds at $65.75 compared with 156 pounds and $61.77 a year ago.