Lamb Carcass
Prices Take
Major Jump

Carcass lamb prices on the East Coast ranged from steady to $17 higher last week to wipe out a large share of the disparity between weight brackets. Weights under 55 pounds held steady while the next two weight brackets were $10-14 higher and all were $166.50-167. Weights 75-85 pounds were $14 higher at $161.50-162, and 85 pounds and up gained $17 to $156.50-157.

Live fat lambs were sharply higher at most marketing areas, mostly $5-10 up. Feeder lambs were generally on the firm side, slaughter ewes a little lower in Texas and stronger in the Midwest markets.

Slaughter ewe exports to Mexico last week were 6737 head. The year to date total through Monday was up 12 percent at 100,460 head.

Lamb and mutton imports last week totaled 894 metric tons or 1,955,800 pounds, the equivalent of 50.5 percent of domestic production.

Slaughter last week was only 58,000 head, the smallest ever for a non-holiday period. The kill rate so far this week is even lower. The year to date kill in down 7.3 percent at 1,259,000 head.

The San Angelo sheep auction offered more than 15,000 head, more than 70 percent of them slaughter ewes; feeder lambs were scarce. The auction also conducted a teleconference feeder lamb sale Wednesday with 7500 head on offer; around 6500 head sold. A 1950-head lot expected to weigh 70-80 pounds brought $90.25 for delivery through May 25; 2300 head weighing 80-90 pounds made $88.50 for May 28 to June 6 delivery, and other lots made $87.75-89.75.

The San Angelo market called 50-70 pound feeders $88-92, 70-90 pounds $85-91, a few $92, and 90-100 pounds $84-87. Goldthwaite lambs weighing 40-70 pounds made $88-95, 80-100 pounds $82-88. Junction lambs of 55-85 pounds were $82-95. Midwest markets moved 40-50 pound lambs at $105-112, 80-90 pounds $90-92.50. At Billings, 70-80 pound feeders brought $76-80 and 90-100 pounds $76-78.

Recent sales of feeder lambs moving direct in West Texas had 60-90 pounds $85-90, 70-85 pounds $83-88. Arizona quoted 110-120 pound feeders $75, and 90-120 pound California lambs were $78-80.

Slaughter lambs in San Angelo weighing 100-130 pounds brought $74.50-81, 130-145 pounds $70-75. Midwest markets had shorn lambs $72-88.50, wooled $69-87.50.

Slaughter lambs moving direct from Texas feedlots to packers at 120-145 pounds made $75-78, newcrops $78-81. Colorado contract lambs recently earned $66-71 on 130-160 pounds, 160-180 pounds $62-66; other direct lambs weighing 170-185 pounds were $70 and 140 pounds $73.50. South Dakota lambs of 135-140 pounds moved at $80. California had lambs at $75, newcrops $75-82. Midwest lambs moved direct at $75-80.

Slaughter ewes in San Angelo were $33-55, a few to $58, heavy fat offerings stopping at $48. Midwest ewes were $27-39.50, and Billings quoted ewes $22-34.75.

Goldthwaite sold babytooth stock ewes at $75-90 per head.