Dressed Lamb
Prices Take
Another Jump

Carcass lamb prices jumped again last week to reach the highest level since June of 1998. Prices are now $10-37 higher than two weeks ago. A similar jump occurred in June last year that only lasted about three weeks.

It is strange that these skyrocketing prices occur at the same time we experience a large increase in imported lamb. Last year, lamb imports moved from 40 percent of domestic production to 67 percent when the market took that sharp jump. This year imports were 45 percent of domestic production a couple of weeks ago and last week, when the sharp jump occurred, imports amounted to 57.5 percent.

Domestic lamb and mutton production so far this year is down 7.9 percent and imports are down 5.7 percent. Year to date imports amounted to the equivalent of 46.8 percent of domestic production.

The sharp jump in carcass prices naturally pushed up live fat lambs and makes price comparisons look foolish. Some prices were up as much as $10. Feeder lamb prices were more conservative as lamb feeders were cautious of what’s to follow, hoping they will be ahead of the game when the market falls back in line.

Slaughter ewes were $2-4 lower in San Angelo, the jumping-off place for Mexican outlets. There were 7063 ewes crossing into Mexico last week. The year to date volume on Monday stood at 105,427 head, up 11 percent from a year ago.

The lamb pelt market is still inactive at quotes of $1-2, a few shorn to $4. The hoped-for increased demand from the Hong Kong and Italy trade shows failed to materialize as activity was nearly nonexistent.

San Angelo feeder lambs weighing 35-45 pounds brought $93-96, 45-60 pounds $88-90, 60-70 pounds $86-91, 70-90 pounds $84-89, and 90-100 pounds $82-89. Fredericksburg lambs were mostly $84-98, a few reaching $100. Goldthwaite feeders weighing 45-75 pounds made $90-94.50, 80-105 pounds $86-50-96.50. Junction feeders of 45-90 pounds were $83-96. Midwest markets quoted 40-70 pounds lambs $98-111, 70-90 pounds $90-101 and 80-90 pounds $88-89.

Feeder lambs weighing 70-80 pounds moving direct in West Texas were mostly $85-87 and California had 100-120 pound feeders $81-83.

San Angelo fat lambs brought $83-89, newcrops $90-93; Goldthwaite fats made $72-79. Fat lambs moved from $83 to $90.50 in Midwest markets.

Recent sales of fat lambs moving from Texas feedlots to packers were $82-85. Colorado had lambs $84.75-91, South Dakota $86.50-90, and Wyoming fats made $82-85. California lambs moved for $75-80. Fat lambs moving direct in the Midwest were $82-86.50, newcrops $89. Colorado contracts averaged 150 pounds at $69.69 compared to 161 pounds and $57.16 a year ago.

Fleshy slaughter ewes in San Angelo brought $32-53.50, a few to $58, fats stopping at $42.

Yearling ewes went back to the country in Texas at $85-90 per head, solidmouth $75-88. Wyoming had solidmouth bred ewes $90.