Source: USDA AMS Agricultural Analytics Division (www.ams.usda.gov/services/market-research/aad) Lamb Markets Overview – January 2019

PRODUCTION: Commercial lamb and mutton production decreased 2% in 

November, to 12.8 million pounds, 3% over the November 2017 level. 

Commercial sheep and lamb slaughter in November declined 3% to 193,200 

head, 4% more than in November 2017. The average sheep and lamb live 

weight added 2 pounds to a 133 pound average, one pound over 2017. The 

average dressed lamb carcass weight, at 68 pounds, was unchanged from 

October and from last year. Stocks of lamb and mutton in cold storage in 

November declined 4% at 37.9 million pounds, 31% above the November 2017

level. 

GRADING: The preliminary volume of lambs graded Choice and Prime by the 

USDA during the month of December was down 4% from November and down 

15% from December 2017. Nationally, the share of lambs qualifying for the 

Choice grade was unchanged at 91% but regionally, Prime gained slightly, 

most in the Ohio Valley and least in the Northwest which, at one percent, saw 

the only rise. Within the Choice grade, the share of graded lambs qualifying 

for YG 3 rose 3%, all coming from a decline in YG 1-2 share. The share of YG 4-

5 lambs remained unchanged for the month. The most pronounced shift in 

Choice lamb yield grading occurred in the Northwest where persistent drought

conditions have been alleviated by wetter weather patterns resulting in a 7% 

decline in YG 1 lambs and an 8% rise in YG 3. 

 

Lamb Markets Overview

A monthly publication of the USDA AMS Livestock and Poultry Program, Agricultural Analytics Division January 2019

10

11

12

13

14

15

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

millions of pounds

Commercial Lamb/Mutton Production

2018 2017 2016

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

millions of pounds

Lamb in Cold Storage 2018 2017 2016

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

YG1 YG2 YG3 YG4 YG5

Choice Lamb by Yield Grade % - December 2018

18-Dec

18-Nov

17-Dec

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

YG1 YG2 YG3 YG4 YG5

Regional Choice Lamb by Yield Grade - December 2018

Northwest

Rocky Mntn

Upper Midwest

Ohio Valley
Source: USDA AMS Agricultural Analytics Division (www.ams.usda.gov/services/market-research/aad) Lamb Markets Overview – January 2019

LIVE MARKETS: The volume of slaughter lambs trading on a direct negotiated 

basis in December, at 12,400 head, decreased 9% from November, 47% below 

December 2017. Prices declined through the month with a rally during the last 

week but this was not enough and the monthly price finished down 2% (from 

$134.51 to $131.64 per cwt.), one percent above the level producers realized

in December 2017. In auction trading, the average price for traditional Choice 

& Prime 2-3, 90-150 lbs. slaughter lambs at Sioux Falls, SD, rose 5% (from 

$127.37 to $133.35 per cwt), 7% over 2017. Receipts were down sharply, 49% 

for the month on a holiday-disrupted schedule. In San Angelo, TX, the average 

price of Choice and Prime 2-3 wooled and shorn non-traditional slaughter 

lambs rose 14% (from $115.64 to $131.50 per cwt.) for the month, down 2%

from last year. At the New Holland, PA, sale, the average price for Choice and 

Prime 2-3 wooled and shorn non-traditional slaughter lambs in December was 

up 2% (from $147.46 to $150.97 per cwt.), 5% below the December 2017 

monthly average.

LAMB IMPORTS:

(Import data for November 2018 not currently available due 

to the lapse in Federal funding.)

 

5

8

10

13

15

18

20

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

millions of pounds

Imported Lamb (fresh and frozen)

2018 2017 2016

100

110

120

130

140

150

160

170

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

dollars per cwt

San Angelo Auction Slaughter Lambs (CH/PR wooled/shorn) 2018 2017 2016

120

130

140

150

160

170

180

190

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

dollars per cwt

Negotiated Direct Slaughter Lambs (CH/PR wooled/shorn) 2018 2017 2016
Source: USDA AMS Agricultural Analytics Division (www.ams.usda.gov/services/market-research/aad) Lamb Markets Overview – January 2019

DOMESTIC MEAT TRADE: The volume of trading of Choice and Prime, 1-4 lamb 

carcasses in December decreased 17% from November, 30% below last year’s 

level. The gross lamb carcass cutout rose one percent (from $3.79 to $3.83

per pound), unchanged from December 2017. The volume of negotiated 

wholesale trading of fresh and frozen domestic boxed lamb cuts in December 

decreased 4% for the month, down 21% from last year. Negotiated trading of 

fresh cuts declined 4% in volume and accounted for 86% of total sales. The 

volume of frozen cut trading decreased 5% for the month and accounted for 

14% of total domestic volume sold. 

In December, traded volume for most leg and rack cuts increased from 

November, reflecting the holiday demand for these cuts. The volume of 

wholesale sales of fresh trotter-off legs rose 8% with a one percent rise in price 

(from $3.57 to $3.61 per pound). This volume was 16% below last year’s level 

and the average price was up one percent. Boneless legs saw a 21% increase 

in sales with a 2% increase in price for the month. This volume of sales was 

30% below the 2017 level but the price was 4% above that period. Sales of 

medium 8-rib fresh racks declined 13% with product needs having been 

covered during the previous month. Sales volume was down 3% from last 

year. The average price rose one percent (from $8.65 to $8.76 per pound), 2% 

over last year. Frenched racks fared better, up 14% in sales but with no change 

in the average sale price at $16.48 per pound. The volume of trimmed 4x4 

loins trading increased 6% but the average price was down 2% (from $5.52 to 

$5.42 per pound), 6% under last year. Foreshank prices were up 2% (from 

$4.20 to $4.28 per pound), unchanged from last year. Trade volume was down 

15% for the month and 22% from last year’s trading. Square-cut shoulder 

prices were unchanged at $2.85 per pound) and sales volume declined 23%

percent from the prior month’s movement, 55% behind 2017. 

IMPORTED MEAT TRADE: The overall volume of negotiated sales imported 

boxed lamb cuts increased 40% in December, 4% below 2017. Sales of fresh 

product increased 63% for the month while frozen cut sales rose 6% as 

marketer needs for the December holidays were covered. Imports accounted 

for 70% of all boxed lamb cut sales in December, down one percent in share 

from November. 

In December, the overall volume of sales of fresh Australian boxed lamb cuts 

increased 7% as marketer’s added supply to cover their needs for holiday sales. 

Sales of imported fresh legs decreased 2% while sales of most other cuts 

3.3

3.5

3.7

3.9

4.1

4.3

4.5

5

10

15

20

25

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

cutout dollars per pound

head in thousands

Lamb Carcass Sales vs. Lamb Cutout (CH & PR, 1-4)

2018 hd 2017 hd 2018$ 2017$

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4.0

4.2

4.4

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

dollars per pound

pounds in thousands

Leg, Trotter-Off (233A) volume v. price 2018 2017 2018$ 2017$

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

9.0

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

millions of pounds

Fresh Domestic Boxed Lamb Cut Movement 2018 2017
Source: USDA AMS Agricultural Analytics Division (www.ams.usda.gov/services/market-research/aad) Lamb Markets Overview – January 2019

increased. Foreshanks saw a 

dramatic decline in sales, down 

78% on limited demand for fresh. 

Average prices for fresh cuts were 

all lower in a range of 1-4%. 

Foreshank prices rose one percent 

on the limited test. 

Sales of frozen Australian lamb 

cuts were, with the exception of 

legs, up in volume from the prior 

month. Leg sales were unchanged 

but frozen racks posted a 28% rise 

in sales. Frozen shoulder volume 

rose 6% but sales of frozen 

foreshanks tripled in volume. Average sale prices for legs was up one percent

but other cuts saw a price decline, racks and shoulder prices by 5% while 

foreshank prices were down 3%. The volume of sales of frozen rack cuts from 

New Zealand in December rose sharply, up 20%, in similar fashion to their 

Australian counterparts. The average price posted a modest one percent gain.

RETAIL MARKETING: Supermarket feature activity for lamb cuts in December, 

both domestic and imported, fresh and frozen, was up 35% from the pace of 

November featuring but was 26% below the level of retail promotions in 

December 2017. Featuring of lamb legs dominated supermarket promotional 

activity with 59% of marketing share, up 4% from November. Activity was led 

by bone-in legs with boneless legs a distant second. Bone-in leg average ad 

prices were unchanged for the moth, 3% over 2017 levels. Featuring of racks 

and rib chops increased share by 7% to comprise 16% of all lamb featuring for 

the month. The average ad price for racks was up 3%, up 20% compared to 

December 2017. Featuring of loin chops declined in share by 6% and made up 

13% of activity. Likewise, shoulder cuts saw 3% less featuring. Foreshanks 

enjoyed an 18% rise in ad price on about the same level of offering for the 

month Offerings of ground lamb dropped 50% in activity and the average price 

declined 27%. 

Dec. Negotiated Sales of Imported Lamb

(change in primal price and sales volume)

Fresh price lbs. price lbs.

racks 98 116 -- --

loins 99 112 -- --

legs 96 98 -- --

shoulders 97 113 -- --

foreshanks 101 22 -- --

Frozen

racks 95 128 101 120

legs 101 100 -- --

shoulders 95 106 -- --

foreshanks 97 326 -- --

Australia New Zealand

percent change

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

9.0

3.5

4.5

5.5

6.5

7.5

8.5

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

feature activity (1,000's)

dollars per pound

Retail Featuring - Bone-in Legs

18 activity 17 activity 18$ 17$

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

9.0

10.0

11.0

12.0

13.0

14.0

15.0

16.0

17.0

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

feature activity (1,000's)

dollars per pound

Retail Featuring - Racks

18 activity 17 activity 18$ 17$
Source: USDA AMS Agricultural Analytics Division (www.ams.usda.gov/services/market-research/aad) Lamb Markets Overview – January 2019

leg 59%

loin 13%

rack 16%

shoulder 9%

breast 0.04%

grnd/stew 2%

shank 1%

December Retail Feature Share

leg 55%

loin 19%

rack 9%

shoulder

12%

breast 0.5%

grnd/stew 2%

shank 2%

November Retail Feature Share

PRODUCTION: 1/ Nov 18 Oct 18 change DIRECT SLAUGHTER LAMB: Dec 18 Nov 18 change

Sheep Meat Production (lbs.)................... 12,800,000 13,100,000 98 CH/PR, wooled/shorn (head).............................. 12,400 13,700 91

Commercial Sheep Slaughter (head)......... 193,200 199,900 97 price ($/cwt)................... 131.64 134.51 98

Fed. Insp. Lamb Slaughter (head)............... 165,300 166,900 99 AUCTION SLAUGHTER LAMB:

Live Sheep Weight (lbs.).............................. 133 131 102 Sioux Falls, CH/PR, 2/3, 90-150 lb. (head)...... 1,598 3,288 49

Dressed Carcass Lamb Weight (lbs.)......... 68 68 100 price ($/cwt)................... 133.35 127.37 105

New Holland, CH/PR, 2/3, 90-150 lb. ($/cwt) 150.97 147.46 102

COLD STORAGE: San Angelo, CH/PR, 2/3, 90-150 lb.

Lamb/Mutton in Storage (lbs.).................. 37,860,000 39,320,000 96 Shorn price ($/cwt)................... 131.50 116.18 113

Wooled price ($/cwt)................... 131.50 115.09 114

IMPORTS: DATA NOT AVAILABLE DUE TO LAPSE IN FEDERAL FUNDING

Total Fresh/Chilled (lbs.)................................. - 5,205,549 - LAMB CARCASS:

Total Frozen (lbs.)............................................. - 4,883,013 - National Lamb Carcass Sales (head)............... 10,402 12,486 83

Total (lbs.)......................................................... - 10,088,562 - Lamb Carcass Gross Cutout ($ per pound)...... 3.83 3.79 101

LAMB GRADED: Dec 18 Nov 18 change BOXED LAMB CUTS:

Choice (head)................................................ 80,864 84,836 95 Domestic Fresh Boxed Lamb Sales (lbs.)......... 5,043,827 5,266,612 96

Prime (head)................................................... 8,382 8,523 98 Imported Fresh Boxed Lamb Sales (lbs.)......... 5,824,911 3,570,490 163

(current month grading numbers are preliminary and subject to change) Imported Frozen Boxed Lamb Sales (lbs.)......... 7,892,804 6,223,472 127

1/ - meat production, commercial slaughter, and live weight includes sheep and lamb; Fed. Insp' lamb slaughter and dressed weight are young lambs only. 

Quick Overview
Source: USDA AMS Agricultural Analytics Division (www.ams.usda.gov/services/market-research/aad) Lamb Markets Overview – January 2019

Pasture and Range Condition: This report will be issued again starting in April 2019. 

(derived from the Weekly NASS Crop Progress reports issued April to November)

Regional Consists - Ohio Valley (MI, NY, OH, PA); Upper Midwest (IA, MN, WI); Rocky Mountain (CO, ID, MT, SD, UT, 

WY); Northwest (CA, OR, WA). Ratings based on percentages described as excellent, good, fair, poor, and very poor. 

Lamb Pelts/Wool: In December, the average estimated per pelt credits returned to producers 

for both shorn and unshorn pellets were mostly unchanged with the credit for Supreme shorn 

pelts up $0.19 per pelt. The share of unshorn pelts increased 7% in December, accounting for 

72% of all pelts. 

Trading of domestic wool in December, both clean and greasy, was lightly tested with 67,300 

domestic pounds confirmed trading of clean wool and 230,527 domestic pounds confirmed 

trading of clean greasy wool. 

December Avg Lamb Pelt Credit Prices

credit change credit change

Supreme 2.06 0.19 0.38 0.00

Premium -0.25 0.00 -0.88 0.00

Standard -1.00 0.00 -1.25 0.00

Fair -0.75 0.00 -1.75 0.00

Mixed -1.00 0.00 -2.38 0.00

Damaged -1.88 0.00 -2.38 0.00

Consist % 72% 28%

Unshorn Shorn