Sheep Industry News August 2023

ence between slaughter and production is, of course, weights. Fed erally inspected dressed weights have been below last year almost every week this year. At the end of June, dressed weights averaged 64 pounds compared to 69 pounds a year ago. Larger slaughter than a year ago is likely keeping some pres sure on live lamb prices while reduced meat production is helping

and imports down 19 percent this year, imports are making up a smaller share of total lamb supplies. Lamb and mutton in cold storage amounted to 25 million pounds in May. While more than the 22 million pounds in storage last year, it is almost 10 million pounds lower than the five-year average. Lower imports and less in storage certainly paints a better picture

to keep lamb meat prices higher. Slaughter is likely to decline season ally in the coming weeks while light average dressed weights cuts produc tion. This combination should work to boost live prices. IMPORTS & STORAGE USDA published the latest import data – for the month of May – on July 7. The data continued to show lamb imports lower than last year. May imports totaled 17 million pounds, 29 percent below May 2022. For the year, lamb imports are down 19 percent. In fact, imports in April and May were below the 2017-2021 five-year average. With domestic production only down half a percent

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August 2023 • Sheep Industry News • 7