Sheep Industry News November 2021

Market Report

JULIE STEPANEK SHIFLETT, PH.D. Juniper Economic Consulting

Re-Release of Carcass Values

A s the American sheep industry contracts, less market information under Livestock Mandatory Price Reporting has been reported by the U.S. Department of Agricul ture's Agricultural Marketing Service for confidentially concerns of its data providers. In October, the industry saw a welcome reversal of one such retraction. The National Weekly Comprehensive Lamb Carcass Report, (LM_XL555) has not reported carcass prices since the first quarter of 2017. Carcass prices used to be reported by weight class – the price of a 65- to 75-lb. carcass, for example. Due to ongoing con fidentiality guidelines, prices for the individual weight categories still cannot be reported; however, this year, ASI worked with AMS to release a weighted average price for all carcasses across weight classes In the first two weeks of October, the total weighted average price for all carcass weights was $548.61 per cwt. According to Erica Sanko, ASI's director of analytics and production programs, the addition of the total weighted average price to the report will provide market participants with additional information to facili tate price discovery and in making marketing decisions.

and slaughter lamb prices remained high in September. The sum mer is typically a tight supply period of the year, but this year was particularly tight due to a smaller flock, smaller lamb crop and ethnic demand for lightweight lambs In September, 60- to 90-lb. feeder lambs at a three-market auction average saw $259.24 per cwt., steady with August and 55 percent higher year-on-year. San Angelo, Texas, saw $270.55 per cwt., Fort Collins, Colo., averaged $247.00 per cwt. and Sioux Falls, S.D., posted $260.18 per cwt. In the past few years, South Dakota was typically the highest valued auction market when compared to Colorado and Texas; however, in the last few months, auction prices in San Angelo have come out on top. This unusual swing in price leadership might be due to Double J Lamb reopening the long-shuttered lamb plant in San Angelo. The Western Video Sheep Video/Internet Auction, Cotton wood, Calif., reported that 75-lb. feeders averaged $286 per cwt. The Billings, Mont., Northern Livestock Video/Internet auction saw 75- to 85-lb. feeders average $259 to $293 per cwt. for Octo ber and November delivery in the North Central region. In the North Central United States, Equity Cooperative Sheep and Lamb Video/Internet Auction, Baraboo, Wis., reported 97-lb. feeders selling for $250.25 per cwt.

FEEDER LAMB PRICES REMAIN STRONG Amid tight supplies and strong demand, mainstream feeder

SLAUGHTER LAMB PRICES PEAK? Live, negotiated slaughter lamb prices fell 5 percent in September to $247.43 per cwt, and down 8 percent from the COVID-19 high of $268.34 per cwt. Prices were not reported in April through September 2020 due to confidentiality; however, prices were 46 percent higher than last October at $169 per cwt. At the New Holland auction in Pennsylvania, Choice 1 to 3 hair sheep were about 3 percent higher in September and up 18 percent year-on-year. For ex-

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