Holiday Period
Brings Early
End To Year

This is the last week of activity for most markets in Texas and this paper. The new Millennium will bring a fresh start on old activities.

Fat and feeder lambs as well as slaughter ewes were a couple of dollars lower this week. Carcass lamb held steady on the East Coast, but cutouts edged slightly lower.

There were 7092 slaughter ewes exported to Mexico last week. The year to date volume on Monday was 12.5 percent above a year ago at 315,481 head.

A total of 1175 metric tons, or 2.6 million pounds, of lamb and mutton were passed for entry into the U.S. the week ending October 30. That amounted to 47 percent of domestic production during that week.

A closer look at the Section 201 lamb import case clears up some confusion over details.

The tariff rate quota began on July 22 and the first "year" will end on July 21, 2000. It is in three non-calendar "year" stages. Because it started in the middle of this year, it could not be retroactive to the beginning of the year. The "year" quotas, however, will be based on total lamb meat imports for the calendar year 1998.

Calculations of the volume for this "year" will be difficult. Customs counts the volume as it comes in. The Bureau of Census, U.S. Department of Commerce, keeps those records on a weekly basis, and they are published by USDA's Foreign Agriculture Service about 45 days after the fact. This allows them to include all late-submitted figures and allows time to eliminate duplications.

The American Sheep Industry Assn. is working with U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Commerce to see if the import figures can be available on a more current basis, as they certainly will have to be by next July when the actual numbers count toward higher tariffs.

In San Angelo this week 40-60 pound feeder lambs brought $88.50-94, 60-70 pounds $88-90, 70-80 pounds $84-89, and 80-100 pounds $85-87. Lightweight lambs in Fredericksburg sold for $91-100, a few to $102; 50 pound newcrops made $107.50. Goldthwaite called 40-70 pound lambs $88-98.50, a few $101-104, 70-80 pounds $88-96. Junction lambs weighing 40-60 pounds were $92.50-102.50, 60-90 pounds $87-98. Midwest markets moved 60-80 pound lambs at $85-95, 80-100 pounds $75-85.

Recent sales of feeder lambs moving direct in West Texas had 55-65 pounds $88-90. Colorado moved 85-90 pound lambs at $85, 100-105 pounds $82.50-83. Idaho sold 100-105 pound lambs at $80, and Montana quoted 95-105 pounders for $80.

Fat lambs in San Angelo weighing 90-120 pounds brought $77-87, 60-90 pounds $88-95 and 40-65 pound newcrops $100-110, a few $129. Midwest markets had fats $66-77.

Fat lambs moved direct for $72-77 in most areas, California bringing $79-79.50, a few to $80 in Colorado and up to $81.50 in Texas. South Dakota had 75 pound lambs at $95.

Fleshy slaughter ewes in San Angelo brought $36-48. Midwest markets had ewes $28-32.