Sheep Industry News December 2022

Market Report

DAVID ANDERSON, PH.D. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Year-End Lamb Production Declines

L amb production typically increases late in the year heading into the holiday season. So far this year, production has not experienced a seasonal increase. ess production than a year ago might set the stage for price recovery heading into the new year. PRODUCTION AND WEIGHTS Lamb and yearling slaughter during the last four weeks is 12.6 percent lower than the same period last year. Normally, slaughter begins to increase in October heading for a seasonal peak between Thanksgiving and Christmas. So far this season, slaughter has not begun to increase yet. After climbing as high as 72 pounds back in late spring, lamb dressed weights have steadily declined – hitting 63

pounds in late October. While the 72-pound dressed weight was higher than the five-year average, the 63 pounds was equal to last year and below the five-year average. Lighter dressed weights combined with fewer lambs going to slaughter means that lamb and mutton production is 11.2 percent less than last year during the last six weeks. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Market ing Service data for Colorado lambs on feed indicates that fewer lambs remain in feedlots. More lambs were on feed than the prior year – according to this data – from January 2022 through August 2022. Since then, fewer lambs have been re ported on feed than in 2021 with November on feed numbers down 22.4 percent compared to last year. Fewer lambs on feed combined with falling dressed weights suggests we might be

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