Lambs Trade
Steady While
Lamb Meat Off

Fat and feeder lambs held fairly steady this week despite a $3-5 decline in the dressed trade. Some Midwest markets had lower fat lamb prices, but numbers there are limited. A large share of feeder lambs are now going into feedlots with retained ownership.

The dressed lamb trade has now declined for the sixth week in a row and is $15-18 below levels of the last week in August. Prices by weight brackets are fairly close with only $6.50 separating the highest from the lowest price.

East Coast carcass prices show 55 pounds and down $160.50-162.60, 55-65 pounds $162.50-164.50, 65-85 pounds $166.50-167, and 85 pounds and up $163.50-164.

Carcass cutout values declined $3.50 and $4.05 with 65 pounds and down at $197.95 and 65 pounds and up $200.70.

Slaughter ewes suffered a sharp price decline in Texas but held near steady in the Midwest. Exports to Mexico totaled 3795 head last week. The year to date total through Monday was up 13 percent at 246,807 head.

There were 807 metric tons of lamb and mutton passed for entry into the U.S. the week ending August 28. That equates to 1.8 million pounds, or 44 percent of domestic production that week.

The pelt market saw some optimistic observations last week. Prices were a little firmer and more pelts were being bid on. The best price is on fall clips at $3.50-4, up about 25 cents on the bottom end.

San Angelo had 40-60 pound feeder lambs $74-78, 60-70 pounds $75-79, 70-80 pounds $74-75, 80-90 pounds $71-78 and 90-100 pounds $68-70. Fredericksburg lambs were mostly $74-79, and Junction feeders brought $68-77. Midwest markets had 60-80 pound feeders $68-72, 80-100 pounds $65-68.

Feeder lambs moving direct in West Texas were mostly 65-85 pounds at $74-75. New Mexico quoted 80-90 pound feeders $72.50-73. South Dakota moved 70-90 pound feeders at $75, 95-100 pounds $73. Wyoming feeders weighing 70 pounds made $80, 75-90 pounds $77-78.50, and some 90 pounders $73.50. Montana feeder lambs of 85-90 pounds moved at $73-75, 95-100 pounds $67.50-71. Utah saw $78 on 90-100 pound lambs, 85-90 pound pool lambs $70-75.50.

Fat lambs weighing 90-120 pounds in San Angelo brought $71.50-76, and Junction called fats $68-74. Midwest markets moved fat shorn lambs at $63-70, wooled $62-68.

Recent sales of fat lambs moving direct from Texas feedlots to packers brought $70-74 on 115-135 pounds, Colorado fat lambs of 125-160 pounds made $74-79, and California had 125-135 pound fats at $70-75. Midwest lambs moved direct with shorn $67-70 and wooled $66-68.

Fat slaughter ewes in San Angelo brought $25-39, fleshy $32-44. Midwest ewes were $22-32.

San Angelo reported mixed age stock ewes at $59-62 per head, and Idaho and Nevada moved yearling ewes at $125 per head. Wyoming ewe lambs weighing 65 pounds made $81.50 cwt., 75-80 pounds $82.50-90. New Mexico ewe lambs weighing 80 pounds went at $80.