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

PRODUCTION: Commercial lamb and mutton production increased 16% in March to 

13.0 million pounds, 8% under March 2018, as production rose to meet anticipated 

Easter/Passover demand in the second half of April. Commercial sheep and lamb 

slaughter in March increased 13% to 190,700 head, 5% below the March 2018 level. The 

average sheep and lamb live weight gained 5 pounds to a 137 pound average, 3 pounds

lighter than a year ago. The average dressed lamb carcass weight, at 71 pounds, was up 

2 pounds for the month but down one pound from last year. Mature sheep slaughter 

increased 19% in March to 8,300 head, down 2% from 2018. Stocks of lamb and mutton 

in cold storage in March decreased 12% to 31.1 million pounds as product moved into 

marketing channels to fill orders for the Easter/Passover demand season. This was 9%

above the March 2018 level. 

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

month of April increased 7%, 21% over the April 2018 level. Nationally, the number of 

lambs qualifying for the Choice grade increased 4% but declined 3% to 91% of the share

of all lambs graded as the number of lambs qualifying for the Prime grade rose, led by a 

strong showing in the Rocky Mountain region which experienced a 67% increase in lambs 

grading Prime followed by a 44% increase in Prime in the Upper Midwest. All lamb 

production regions participated in the overall grading increase with the Ohio Valley 

region seeing a 28% overall rise in lambs graded from the prior month, led by a 34% rise 

in Choice lambs. Nationally, lamb yield coalesced around the YG 3 grade with a 3% 

decline in more finished lambs and a 1% decline in leaner lambs. 

Lamb Markets Overview

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

10

11

11

12

12

13

13

14

14

15

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

millions of pounds

Commercial Lamb/Mutton Production

2019 2018 2017

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

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

millions of pounds

Lamb in Cold Storage 2019 2018 2017

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

YG1 YG2 YG3 YG4 YG5

Choice Lamb by Yield Grade % - April 2019

19-Apr

19-Mar

18-Apr

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

YG1 YG2 YG3 YG4 YG5

Regional Choice Lamb by Yield Grade - April 2019

Northwest

Rocky Mntn

Upper Midwest

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

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

April, at 29,300 head, increased 31% from March, 136% above April 2018. Prices were 

up 8% during the month and 2% over April 2018. In auction trading, the average price 

for traditional Choice & Prime 2-3, 90-150 lbs. slaughter lambs at Sioux Falls, SD, 

increased 9% for the month (from $148.76 to $162.80 per cwt.) and 7% over the April 

2018 level of $152.04 per cwt. Receipts for the month were down 25% for the month 

but were 187% over the level of a year ago. In San Angelo, TX, the average price of 

Choice and Prime 2-3 wooled and shorn non-traditional slaughter lambs decreased 6% 

(from $137.16 to $128.42 per cwt.) for the month and was down 1% from last year. At 

the New Holland, PA, sale in April, the average price for Choice and Prime 2-3 wooled 

and shorn non-traditional slaughter lambs decreased 10% (from $196.65 to $176.90 per 

cwt.), 22% below the April 2018 monthly average.

LAMB IMPORTS: The overall volume of fresh and frozen imported lamb carcasses and 

cuts increased 55% in March ahead of the Eater/Passover demand period. This level was 

29% above the March 2018 rate. At just over 21 million pounds, March imports of lamb 

cuts represent the highest monthly level dating back to 1989 when records were first 

kept. Fresh imports, at 41% share, were up 52% for the month and 9% over 2018. Frozen 

imports also increased, up 57% in March and 48% over March 2018. The share of frozen 

cuts, at 59%, was up 1% in share for the month. Australia sent 69% of total imports in 

March with 79% of fresh cuts and 62% of frozen cuts. New Zealand accounted for 30% 

of total lamb imports with Chile, Uruguay, Mexico, and Canada rounding out March

imports in that order. 

Imports of whole and half lamb carcasses, virtually all in frozen form, increased 180% in 

March and made up 4.5% of import share. Imports of lamb legs led all lamb cuts in 

March tripling the levels imported in February with fresh legs, the hands down Easter 

favorite, topping all fresh imports. Leg imports made up 7% of March imports. Imports 

of shoulder cuts, fresh and frozen, increase 66% for the month and gained 3% of import 

share, rising to 12.5% as marketers stage product for the post-Easter period. Total 

imports of loin cuts increased 38% in March including a 182% rise in frozen loin imports. 

Loins, a popular item for Mother’s Day in chop form, retained a 9% share of imports. 

mostly on a sharp decline in frozen imports, but managed to increase share to 10% of 

all lamb cuts imported. 

The volume of imported bone-in lamb meat increased 41% but the percentage of import 

share was unchanged at 32%. Imports of other boneless lamb cuts, not identified, 

increased 47 in March but dropped 6% of their share of imported lamb cuts, declining 

to a 35%, still enough to remain the primary category of imported lamb cuts. 

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) 2019 2018 2017

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) 2019 2018 2017

8

11

13

16

18

21

23

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

millions of pounds

Imported Lamb Cuts (fresh and frozen) 2019 2018 2017
Source: USDA AMS Agricultural Analytics Division (www.ams.usda.gov/services/market-research/aad) Lamb Markets Overview – May 2019

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

carcasses in April was unchanged from March but was 50% above the level of April 2018. 

With Easter 2018 overserved on April 1, holiday demand for lamb was already passing 

when April 2018 arrived. The gross lamb carcass cutout rose 1% in April at $3.80 per 

pound, 2% above April 2018. The volume of negotiated wholesale trading of fresh and 

frozen domestic boxed lamb cuts in April increased 2% for the month and 63% from 

April 2018. Negotiated trading of fresh cuts rose 7% in volume and accounted for 87%

of total sales. The volume of frozen cut trading decreased 21% for the month and 

accounted for 13% of total domestic volume sold. 

Traded volume of most lamb cuts was up in April targeting the Easter/Passover demand 

season, in particular, fresh legs and middle cuts. The volume of wholesale sales of trotteroff legs rose 143% while prices remained unchanged at $3.61 per pound. This volume 

was 250% above last year’s level when Easter was observed three weeks earlier and the 

average price was down 2%. Trotter-off legs were the most actively traded lamb cut in 

April. The volume of sales of boneless legs rose 42% and the average monthly price was 

up 4% (from $5.28 to $5.50 per pound). Sales of medium 8-rib racks were up 10% and 

the average price rose 1% (from $8.74 to $8.83 per pound). Frenched racks sales declined 

5% in April and prices were unchanged at $16.57 per pound. The volume of trimmed 

4x4 loins trading was up 4% for the month with a 1% decrease in the average sale price 

(from $5.24 to $5.18 per pound). Foreshanks had a 6% decline in sales volume but the 

average sale price increased 8% (from $4.18 to $4.50 per pound). Foreshanks saw similar 

trading in April 2018. Trading of square-cut shoulder cuts realized the most decline in 

April, down 22% but prices increased 3% (from $2.76 to $2.84 per pound). Trading of 

ground lamb decreased 26% for the month and prices were unchanged at $5.75 per 

pound. 

IMPORTED MEAT TRADE: In April, the overall volume of fresh and frozen imported 

lamb carcasses and cuts increased 

45%, 4% over the April 2018 level. 

Fresh imports, at 51% share, doubled 

their volume in April and were 49% 

above the 2018 level for the month. 

Frozen imports rose 13% from March 

but were down 21% compared to April 

2018. The share of frozen cuts, at 49%, 

was down 14% in share for the month 

as demand shifted to fresh cuts for the 

Easter/Passover season. 

The overall volume of sales of fresh 

Australian boxed lamb cuts increased 

98% in April, led by a sharp rise in legs, 

3.7

3.7

3.8

3.8

3.9

5

10

15

20

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)

2019 hd 2018 hd 2019$ 2018$

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

9.0

10.0

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

millions of pounds

Fresh Domestic Boxed Lamb Cut Movement 2019 2018 2017

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

3.4

3.5

3.5

3.6

3.6

3.7

3.7

3.8

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

dollars per pound

pounds in thousands

Leg, Trotter-Off (233A) volume v. price 2019 2018 2019$ 2018$

Apr. Negotiated Sales of Imported Lamb

(change in primal price and sales volume)

Fresh price lbs. price lbs.

racks 97 202 -- --

loins 97 250 -- --

legs 85 46,404 -- --

shoulders 94 184 -- --

foreshanks -- -- -- --

Frozen

racks 99 127 101 85

legs 95 209 -- --

shoulders 83 78 -- --

foreshanks 99 219 -- --

percent change

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

up sharply from March with a 15% increase in the average sale price. Demand for fresh 

legs rose sharply in April to supply traditional holiday demand. All fresh Australian cuts 

saw an increase in sales volume in April and a corresponding decline in the average sale 

price. Sales volume of frozen Australian lamb cuts was up 69% in April, led by a 119% 

rise in foreshank sales and a 109% increase in leg sales volume. The volume of rack sales 

saw a 27% rise during the month. Sales volume of shoulder cuts was down 22% in April 

as demand shifted to legs and racks. Average sale prices for all cuts declined in April, 

least for legs and foreshanks and most for shoulders. Sales of frozen imported lamb rack 

cuts from New Zealand declined 15% in volume for the month, following a 21% rise in 

March. The average sale price was up 1%. 

RETAIL MARKETING: Supermarket feature activity for lamb cuts, both domestic and 

imported, fresh and frozen, increased 111% in April, 143% above the April 2018 pace. 

Featuring of leg cuts increased sharply in April, increasing feature share by 54% to hold 

a commanding 61% of all lamb cut features in April targeting Easter/Passover demand. 

Boneless legs enjoyed the most promotion in the leg category followed closely by bonein offerings. While the average ad price for boneless legs declined 4%, feature pricing 

for all other leg cuts was higher. Featuring of racks for the holidays increased 173% with 

a 2% rise in the ad price. Racks held a 6% share of all lamb cuts featured in April. 

Marketing of loin chops declined sharply in April, down 14% with a 21% decline in ad 

share. Ad pricing decline 12% during the month. Shoulder chops lost 24% of feature 

share in April as more traditional holiday offerings took center stage. Offerings of blade 

chops declined 30% with a 3% rise in ad price while round bone chops had a 6% decline 

in ad price and a 21% decline in feature activity. Ground lamb experienced a 56% 

increase in featuring and ad prices rose 13%. Average ad prices for shanks rose 4% and 

featuring in store ads rose 32% during the month. 

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

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

millions of pounds

Negotiated Sales of Imported Lamb (fresh and frozen)

2019 2018 2017

Apr 2019 32.2%

Apr 2019 67.8%

Mar 2019 40.2%

Mar 2019 59.8%

Apr 2018 23.2%

Apr 2018 76.8%

domestic

imported

0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0% 90.0%

Domestic vs. Imported Boxed Lamb Sales - share of fresh/frozen product sold)

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

3.5

4.5

5.5

6.5

7.5

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

19 activity 18 activity 19$ 18$

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

10.5

11.5

12.5

13.5

14.5

15.5

16.5

17.5

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

feature activity (1,000's)

dollars per pound

Retail Featuring - Racks

19 activity 18 activity 19$ 18$
Source: USDA AMS Agricultural Analytics Division (www.ams.usda.gov/services/market-research/aad) Lamb Markets Overview – May 2019

leg 61%

loin 15%

rack 6%

shoulder

10%

breast 0.3%

grnd/stew 7%

shank 1%

April Retail Feature Share

leg 7%

loin 36%

rack 7%

shoulder 34%

breast 1%

grnd/stew...

shank 2%

March Retail Feature Share

PRODUCTION: 1/ Mar 19 Feb 19 change DIRECT SLAUGHTER LAMB: Apr 19 Mar 19 change

Sheep Meat Production (lbs.)............... 13,000,000 11,200,000 116 CH/PR, wooled/shorn (head)........................ 29,300 22,300 131

Commercial Sheep Slaughter (head)... 190,700 169,300 113 price ($/cwt)................... 152.46 141.63 108

Fed. Insp. Lamb Slaughter (head)......... 162,000 139,100 116 AUCTION SLAUGHTER LAMB:

Live Sheep Weight (lbs.)........................ 137 132 104 Sioux Falls, CH/PR, 2/3, 90-150 lb. (head)... 623 829 75

Dressed Carcass Lamb Weight (lbs.)...... 71 69 103 price ($/cwt)................... 162.80 148.76 109

New Holland, CH/PR, 2/3, 90-150 lb. ($/cw 176.90 196.65 90

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

Lamb/Mutton in Storage (lbs.)............... 31,075,000 35,503,000 88 Shorn price ($/cwt)................... 128.58 137.38 94

Wooled price ($/cwt)................... 128.25 136.93 94

IMPORTS: 

Total Fresh/Chilled (lbs.)...........................8,713,099 5,717,682 152 LAMB CARCASS:

Total Frozen (lbs.).......................................12,566,334 7,980,504 157 National Lamb Carcass Sales (head)............ 15,608 15,578 100

Total (lbs.)...................................................21,279,433 13,698,186 155 Lamb Carcass Gross Cutout ($ per pound)... 3.80 3.77 101

LAMB GRADED: Apr 19 Mar 19 change BOXED LAMB CUTS:

Choice (head).......................................... 91,928 88,143 104 Domestic Fresh Boxed Lamb Sales (lbs.)...... 6,635,029 6,198,880 107

Prime (head)............................................. 9,365 6,089 154 Imported Fresh Boxed Lamb Sales (lbs.)...... 8,170,096 4,090,973 200

(current month grading numbers are preliminary and subject to change) Imported Frozen Boxed Lamb Sales (lbs.)... 7,942,042 7,006,434 113

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 – May 2019

Pasture and Range Condition: This report will be issued again starting in the May 2019 edition. 

(derived from the Weekly NASS Crop Progress reports issued May 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 April, the average estimated per pelt credits returned to producers for shorn pelts

increased for Supreme (+0.75 per pelt) and Premium (+0.88 per pelt) as the share of shorn pelts increased 

8% from March. The credit for Supreme unshorn pelts declined $0.10 per pelt and the credit for Premium 

pelts was down $0.13 per pelt. 

Domestic wool saw limited trading in April with traded volumes of both clean and greasy down significantly 

from levels of April 2018. 

April Avg Lamb Pelt Credit Prices

credit change credit change

Supreme 2.13 -0.10 1.13 0.75

Premium -0.13 -0.13 0.00 0.88

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 % 47% 53%

Unshorn Shorn