Same Song,
Third Week,
Lamb Lower

Carcass lamb prices on the East Coast moved $3 lower across the board last week, making it the third week in a row of lower values. The month of September hasn’t been good for dressed lamb prices.

Slaughter lambs were a couple of dollars lower where tested. Feeder lambs held fairly steady, though there were a few soft as well as firm markets. Slaughter ewes were steady in the Midwest but around $3 lower in Texas.

Carlot carcass lamb on the East Coast was $168.50-169 on 55 pounds and down, 55-65 pounds $175.50-176, 65-75 pounds $179.50-180, 75-85 pounds $179.50, and 85 pounds and up $176.50. Those prices are $9-20 below late last month. The gross difference between a 54 pound carcass and a 56 pound carcass is $7.30.

Lamb carcass cutout values lost $1.02 with 65 pounds and down at $209.03 and 65 pounds and up $212.33. Those prices are $4.50-6 below four weeks ago.

Slaughter ewes exported to Mexico last week totaled 7963 head. For the year through Monday, 221,887 head have crossed into Mexico, 10 percent more than during the same period last year.

Sheep and lamb slaughter has been running above year-ago figures for the past two months. In a six week period the cumulative percent decline has changed from 6.3 percent to 4.8 percent.

San Angelo feeder lambs weighing 40-60 pounds brought $77-82, 60-70 pounds $76-81, 70-90 pounds $73-77, a few ewe lambs $78.50, and 90-100 pounds $73-76. Fredericksburg feeders weighing 80-90 pounds were mostly $73-78. Midwest markets had 60-80 pound lambs $73-85, 80-100 pounds $70-73.

Feeder lambs moving direct in West Texas were $72-76 on 70-90 pounds. Recent sales in North Dakota had lambs of 90-95 pounds at $72. Wyoming feeders weighing 65-70 pounds brought $78, 75-80 pounds $75-77 and 95-100 pounds $72-74. Idaho feeders of 90-100 pounds made $72.50-74, and 85-100 pound lambs in Utah turned at $71-72. In Nevada, 90-100 pound feeders were $70.50. Colorado had 90-120 pound mixed fat and feeder lambs at $80.

Slaughter lambs in San Angelo were scarce, a few 90-130 pounders $74-79. Midwest markets had wooled lambs 110-120 pounds $64-72 and 120-145 pounds $67-76.50.

Recent sales on Texas slaughter lambs moving direct from feedlots to packers showed o$75 on 115-145 pounds. Colorado lambs weighing 110-130 pounds moved direct at $80, 110-150 pound formula lambs $78-83. California lambs at 130-145 pounds brought $75-80, and 125-135 pound Midwest lambs moved direct at $73-76.

Fat slaughter ewes in San Angelo sold from $32 to $43.50, fleshy offerings $36-50, a few to $54. Midwest markets had ewes $25-38.

Colorado moved some mixed age stock ewes at $85 per head. Wyoming had yearlings at $120 per head and ewe lambs weighing 65-70 pounds made $82.50 cwt. California yearling ewes brought $150 per head.