For the week ending December 9th the Midwest sheep and goat market was higher week over week. The slaughter lamb market seemed to prefer the heavier 150 lbs wool lambs. Overall the wool and hair lamb market was $10-$20/cwt higher. The goat market saw some very high outliers with some lightweight feeder goats in Texas topping out at $500/cwt. The mean of the market though seemed to be $15-$20/cwt higher than the previous week. It was positive to see this week more breeding sale reports with more quality replacement stock returning to the country. The market seems to be following a seasonal pattern as we start to close out the year. The Jewish market with Hanukkah on the Horizon (December 7-15) could be helping to push the heavier wool lamb market. Unfortunately there may be tougher markets ahead though as the cattle market has sold off sharply over the past few weeks. USDA noted in the WASDE report released on Friday that beef production is likely to increase through 2023 and early 2024. The increase though is coming on heavier carcasses rather than on higher slaughter numbers. Pork and broiler production is also expected to stay steady with slight increases possible. Pork exports are expected to soften from the US with diminishing demand in Asian countries. So long story short the US is likely to have plenty of protein on hand and that often signals that the cheapest protein wins. That is where lamb and goat struggle at the retail level.
At the retail level this week the lamb retail activity index was unchanged. Lamb Cuts were 1.69% higher. For the week, Roast ads were 383.33% higher and Chop ads were 61.33% lower. Lamb features offered more ad space for Chops, Legs, and Rack.
Highlighted quotes this week include Colby Livestock in Kansas which sold 4 head of 98 lb wether goats for $230/cwt or $225/hd. Colby also sold 70 head of 62 lb goats for $327.50/cwt or $203/hd. Colby also sold 13 head of 58 lb hair lambs for $285/cwt or $165/hd. Centennial Livestock in Colorado sold 117 head of 55 lb feeder hair lambs for $257/cwt or $142/hd average. The upper end of the draft brought $265/cwt or $146/hd. Centennial also sold 8 head of 118 lb goat wethers for $259/cwt or $307/hd. The upper end of the draft brought $262/cwt or $310/hd. Kalona Iowa sold 94 head of 82 lb wool lambs for $220/cwt or $180/hd. The upper end of the draft brought $230/cwt or $189/hd. Kalona Iowa also sold 117 head of 74 lb hair lambs for $240/cwt or $178/hd. The upper end of the draft brought $255/cwt or $189/hd. Kalona Iowa also sold 16 head of 52 lb slaughter goats for $305/cwt or $159/hd. The upper end of the draft sold for $336/cwt or $175. Sioux Falls Regional Livestock sold 1,044 head of 134 lb slaughter wool lambs for $181/cwt or $242.50/hd average. The upper end of the draft brought $200/cwt or $268/hd. Sioux Falls also sold 51 head of 95 lbs goat wethers for $240/cwt or $228/hd. Sioux Falls Regional Livestock also sold 44 head of open 2-4 yr old wool ewes weighing 167 lbs for $105/cwt or $175/head. Producers Livestock in Texas sold 206 head of 84 lb slaughter hair lambs for $236/cwt or $198/hd average. The upper end of the draft sold for $250/cwt or $210/hd. Producers also sold 486 head of 56 lb goats for $274/cwt or $153/hd average. The upper end of the draft sold for $295/cwt or $165/hd. Producers also sold 49 head of 2-4 yr old open 134 lb hair ewes for $174/cwt or $233/hd. Hamilton Commission Company in Hamilton Texas sold replacement does for up to $450/hd.
Lamb slaughter this week was estimated at 38,000 head through Saturday. That is a 4,000 head drop from last week and 2,000 head more than last year. Year to date lamb slaughter at 1,722,000 head 4.5% or 75,000 head more than the previous year’s lamb slaughter. Live lamb weights this week were 117 pounds. That was down 2 pounds from last week and a decrease of 13 pounds from last year. Dressed lamb weights were 59 pounds. That was down 1 pound from last week and down 7 pounds from last year.
Here is a regional price range from all sales in the report.
Wool lambs
20-40 lbs $247-$320/cwt
40-70 lbs $155-$325/cwt
70lbs & up $105-$240/cwt
Hair lambs
20-40 lbs $200-$330/cwt
40-70 lbs $180-$340/cwt
70 lbs and up $151-$305/cwt
Wool ewes
Stocker $150-$225/hd
Slaughter $30-$135/cwt
Rams $60-$130/cwt
Hair Ewes
Replacement $150-$235/hd
Slaughter $60-$160/cwt
Hair Rams $100-$195/cwt
Kid Goats
20-40 lbs $200-$500/cwt
40-70 lbs $165-$400/cwt
70 lbs & up $190-$318/cwt
Wethers
70 lbs & up $206-$280/cwt
Does
Slaughter medium-fleshy $110-$230/hd
Replacement $135-$450/hd
Bucks
Slaughter $145-$226/cwt
Breeding N/A
