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

PRODUCTION: Commercial lamb and mutton production increased 3% in December, 

to 13.2 million pounds, 3% over the December 2017 level. Commercial sheep and lamb 

slaughter in December rose 4% to 201,800 head, 7% more than in December 2017. The 

average sheep and lamb live weight declined 2 pounds to a 131 pound average, 5

pounds lighter than a year ago. The average dressed lamb carcass weight was 

unchanged at 68 pounds, 2 pounds under the December 2017 level. Stocks of lamb and 

mutton in cold storage in December declined 4% at 36.5 million pounds, 36% above the 

December 2017 level. 

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

during the month of January was up 6% from December and up 7% from January 2018. 

Nationally, the share of lambs qualifying for the Choice grade increased 3% for a 94% 

share with the bulk of the shift coming from the Rocky Mountain region which, with an 

overall share of 64%, had a 4% rise in numbers and a 5% increase in Choice. Within the 

Choice grade, graded lambs shifted towards the more finished end of the range with a 

decline in the number of lambs qualifying for YG 1-3 while YG 4 numbers rose 4% and 

YG 5 up 2%. In the Northwest, Choice lambs qualifying for YG 3 saw a 5% increase with 

more finished lambs unchanged. The Upper Midwest saw lambs Choice lambs qualifying 

for YG 2-3 increasing in numbers (5% and 9%, respectively), with a 6% drop in YG 2. In 

the Ohio Valley, lamb yield grades shifted to the center with an 8% increase in YG 3. 

Lamb Markets Overview

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

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

YG1 YG2 YG3 YG4 YG5

Choice Lamb by Yield Grade % - January 2019

19-Jan

18-Dec

18-Jan

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

YG1 YG2 YG3 YG4 YG5

Regional Choice Lamb by Yield Grade - January 2019

Northwest

Rocky Mntn

Upper Midwest

Ohio Valley

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

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

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

January, at 14,300 head, increased 15% from December, 12% above January 2018. After 

early increases, prices declined through the second half of the month but not enough to 

finish one percent over December 2018 (from $131.64 to $132.53 per cwt.) and one 

percent over January 2018. In auction trading, the average price for traditional Choice & 

Prime 2-3, 90-150 lbs. slaughter lambs at Sioux Falls, SD, was unchanged at $133.69 per 

cwt, 5% below January 2018. Receipts were down 22% for the month, partially due to a 

market closure at the end of the month due to record cold temperatures across the 

Upper Midwest. In San Angelo, TX, the average price of Choice and Prime 2-3 wooled 

and shorn non-traditional slaughter lambs rose 2% (from $131.50 to $134.22 per cwt.)

for the month, up 3% 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 January was 

up 12% (from $150.97 to $168.96 per cwt.), 6% below the January 2018 monthly average.

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

cuts rose 37% percent in November with the onset of holiday season demand. This 

reflects a one percent increase over November 2017 volumes. Imports of both fresh and 

of frozen lamb were up sharply, fresh up 52% for the month and frozen up 21%. The 

balance between fresh and frozen was widened as fresh increased share to 57% of all 

import volume. Australia remained the primary source of lamb imports with 68 percent 

of lamb imports in November. New Zealand imports during the month increased 65% 

for a 31% share of total monthly lamb imports. Canada shipped the balance of fresh lamb 

with Mexico and Uruguay rounding out frozen imports for the month. 

Imports of whole and half lamb carcasses, virtually all in frozen form, declined 29% in 

November, 34% below the volume imported in November 2017. Imports of lamb legs 

rose 70% for the month and increasing their share of lamb imports by 2%, accounting 

for 10% of all lamb imports. The volume of imported shoulder cuts, fresh and frozen, 

rose 22% during the month, down 27% from 2017, yet lost a one percent share of 

imports, down to 10%. Import volume of loin cuts increased 25%, primarily in fresh form 

and was up 5% from 2017. Despite this rise, imports of loin cuts drop a one percent 

share of all lamb imports that month, accounting for 12%. The volume of imported 

bone-in lamb meat increased 67% and increased import share by 7% to a 37% share to 

become the largest category of imported lamb for the month. Imports of other boneless 

lamb cuts, not identified, increased 21% in volume but lost share to other cuts by 4% for 

a 28% share of all lamb imports. 

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

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

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

carcasses in January decreased 19% from December, 18% below last year’s level. The 

gross lamb carcass cutout was unchanged for the month at $3.83 per pound, 4% above 

January 2018. The volume of negotiated wholesale trading of fresh and frozen domestic 

boxed lamb cuts in January decreased 18% for the month, up 2% from last year.

Negotiated trading of fresh cuts declined 18% in volume and accounted for 86% of total 

sales. The volume of frozen cut trading decreased 15% for the month and accounted for 

14% of total domestic volume sold. 

In January, traded volume for most leg and rack cuts decreased from December as 

holiday demand passed. The volume of wholesale sales of fresh trotter-off legs declined 

58% with a 2% rise in price (from $3.61 to $3.68 per pound). This volume was 33% below 

last year’s level and the average price was up 7%. Boneless legs saw a 34% decrease in 

sales with a 4% decrease in price for the month. This volume of sales was 18% below the 

2018 level but the price was one percent above that period. Sales of medium 8-rib fresh 

racks declined 45% with product needs having been covered during the previous month. 

Sales volume was down 27% from last year. The average price rose one percent (from 

$8.76 to $8.87 per pound), 7% over last year. Frenched racks fared better, down 41% in 

sales with a one percent rise in the average sale price (from $16.48 to $16.58 per pound). 

The volume of trimmed 4x4 loins trading decreased 35% and the average price was down 

2% (from $5.42 to $5.32 per pound), 5% under last year. Foreshank prices were down 

one percent (from $4.28 to $4.25 per pound), up 2% from last year. Trade volume was 

down 26% for the month and 27% from last year’s trading. Square-cut shoulder prices 

declined 2% (from $2.85 to $2.81 per pound) while sales volume rose sharply, up 20%

from the prior month’s movement, 35% behind 2018. 

IMPORTED MEAT TRADE: The overall volume of negotiated sales imported boxed lamb 

cuts decreased 25% in January, 7%

below 2017. Sales of fresh product 

decreased 64% for the month while 

frozen cut sales were down 18% as 

the December holiday demand 

period passed. Imports accounted 

for 71% of all boxed lamb cut sales 

in January, down 2% in share from 

December. 

In January, the overall volume of 

sales of fresh Australian boxed lamb 

cuts decreased 29% as spot market 

business for the December holiday 

demand season ended. Average 

prices for fresh cuts were mixed with 

foreshanks not tested. Sales volume

Jan. Negotiated Sales of Imported Lamb

(change in primal price and sales volume)

Fresh price lbs. price lbs.

racks 102 71 -- --

loins 97 87 -- --

legs 108 2 -- --

shoulders 102 82 -- --

foreshanks 0 0 -- --

Frozen

racks 104 77 100 98

legs 101 63 -- --

shoulders 109 106 -- --

foreshanks 100 119 -- --

Australia New Zealand

percent change

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

2.70

2.75

2.80

2.85

2.90

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

550

dollars per pound

pounds in thousands

Shoulders, Square-Cut (207) volume v. price 2019 2018 2019$ 2018$
Source: USDA AMS Agricultural Analytics Division (www.ams.usda.gov/services/market-research/aad) Lamb Markets Overview – February 2019

for all fresh imported lamb cuts declined in January. Legs, most popular during the 

Christmas season, saw the largest decline in sales volume and the largest rise in the 

average sale price, up 8% on a very limited test. Loin cuts declined 13% in volume and 

posted the only decline in prices for fresh cuts, down 3%. Prices for racks and shoulder 

cuts rose 2% as volume for both declined. 

Sales of frozen Australian lamb cuts also saw a decline in the post-holiday demand 

season, down 21% in volume in January. Average prices for frozen Australian lamb cuts 

were up for all cuts. Frozen foreshanks had a 19% rise in volume while prices were 

unchanged. Shoulder cuts also saw a rise in sales volume, up 6%, while prices rose 9%. 

Sales volume of frozen racks and legs declined in January and prices rose on the reduced 

volumes. Sales of frozen imported lamb rack cuts from New Zealand declined 2% in 

volume while prices remained unchanged. 

RETAIL MARKETING: Supermarket feature activity for lamb cuts in January, both 

domestic and imported, fresh and frozen, declined sharply in seasonal fashion, down 

43% as the holiday demand season ends but 36% more active than in January 2018. 

Featuring of shoulder cuts dominated all other lamb cuts in January with 43% of 

marketing share. Contrast this with 9% share in December. Average ad prices for 

shoulder chops were up over January 2018, 6% for blade chops and 10% for round bones. 

Marketing of leg cuts was the opposite of shoulder cuts in January as the premier 

demand period for legs passed. Lamb leg share of advertising, dominate in December 

with 59%, dropped to 8% in January as featuring of legs all but disappeared. Average 

ad prices for the various leg cuts were mostly lower. 

Supermarket featuring of loin cuts was consistent with the December pace but the sharp 

decline in leg ads allowed loin cuts to increase their monthly share of retail marketing, 

up 10% to a 23% share. Average ad prices increased 2% over December and 3% over 

the same period in 2018. Similar to legs, lamb cuts from the rack also saw a decline in 

activity, down 72% from December with a 15% rise in the average ad price. Compared 

to a year ago, this was 13% more ad exposure at a 44% higher average ad price. Ground 

lamb and lamb stew meat features also increased in January once the focus on legs and 

racks shifted moving into the new year. Marketing share increased 11% to a 13% share 

of lamb cut features. Average ad prices rose 68% for the month. Ad space made a little 

more room for some breast offers at consistent average ad prices and for shanks at a 

slightly higher average ad price, up 8%. 

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

8.0

8.5

9.0

9.5

10.0

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

feature activity (1,000's)

dollars per pound

Retail Featuring - Bone-in Loin Chops

19 activity 18 activity 19$ 18$

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

4.5

5.5

6.5

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

feature activity (1,000's)

dollars per pound

Retail Featuring - Shoulder Blade Chops

19 activity 18 activity 19$ 18$

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

leg 8%

loin 23%

rack 10%

shoulder 43%

breast 0.5%

grnd/stew 12%

shank 3%

January Retail Feature Share

leg 59%

loin 13%

rack 16%

shoulder 9%

breast 0%

grnd/stew 2%

shank 1%

December Retail Feature Share

PRODUCTION: 1/ Dec 18 Nov 18 change DIRECT SLAUGHTER LAMB: Jan 19 Dec 18 change

Sheep Meat Production (lbs.)............... 13,200,000 12,800,000 103 CH/PR, wooled/shorn (head)........................ 14,300 12,400 115

Commercial Sheep Slaughter (head)... 201,800 193,200 104 price ($/cwt)................... 132.53 131.64 101

Fed. Insp. Lamb Slaughter (head)......... 166,100 165,300 100 AUCTION SLAUGHTER LAMB:

Live Sheep Weight (lbs.)........................ 131 133 98 Sioux Falls, CH/PR, 2/3, 90-150 lb. (head)... 1,252 1,598 78

Dressed Carcass Lamb Weight (lbs.)...... 68 68 100 price ($/cwt)................... 133.69 133.35 100

New Holland, CH/PR, 2/3, 90-150 lb. ($/cw 168.96 150.97 112

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

Lamb/Mutton in Storage (lbs.)............... 36,454,000 37,860,000 96 Shorn price ($/cwt)................... 134.10 131.50 102

Wooled price ($/cwt)................... 134.33 131.50 102

IMPORTS: (December data will be included in the March report.)

Total Fresh/Chilled (lbs.)........................... - 7,915,909 - LAMB CARCASS:

Total Frozen (lbs.)....................................... - 5,894,713 - National Lamb Carcass Sales (head)............ 8,386 10,402 81

Total (lbs.)................................................... - 13,810,622 - Lamb Carcass Gross Cutout ($ per pound)... 3.83 3.83 100

LAMB GRADED: Jan 19 Dec 18 change BOXED LAMB CUTS:

Choice (head).......................................... 88,982 80,864 110 Domestic Fresh Boxed Lamb Sales (lbs.)...... 4,124,693 5,043,827 82

Prime (head)............................................. 5,546 8,382 66 Imported Fresh Boxed Lamb Sales (lbs.)...... 2,729,310 6,304,833 43

(current month grading numbers are preliminary and subject to change) Imported Frozen Boxed Lamb Sales (lbs.)... 5,554,400 9,137,912 61

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 – February 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 January, 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 $0.22 per pelt

and the credit for Premium grade unshorn pelts up $0.03. The share of unshorn pelts increased 7% in 

January, accounting for 79% of all pelts. 

Trading of domestic wool in January, both clean and greasy, was inactive through the month. 

Summary of Supermarket Feature Activity of Lamb Cuts During the 2018 Thanksgiving and 

Christmas/Hanukkah Marketing Periods.

January Avg Lamb Pelt Credit Prices

credit change credit change

Supreme 2.28 0.22 0.38 0.00

Premium -0.22 0.03 -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 % 79% 21%

Unshorn Shorn

Thanksgiving/Christmas - Supermarket Featuring of Lamb Cuts

Product Source:

Source Marketing Share:

share $/lb share $/lb share $/lb share $/lb

Leg Cuts

 Bone-in Leg........................ 14% 5.72 9% 6.49 23% 9.32 8% 6.07

 Bn-in Leg, butt half.............. 7% 5.12 -- -- -- -- 1% 6.13

 Bn-in Leg, shank half............ 8% 5.68 -- -- -- -- 1% 6.37

 Semi-bnls Leg..................... 8% 7.00 15% 5.44 -- -- 55% 5.80

 Semi-bnls Leg, butt half........ 3% 6.79 -- -- -- -- -- --

 Semi-bnls Leg, shank half..... 0.2% 6.99 -- -- -- -- 1% 6.99

 Boneless Leg....................... 14% 7.89 18% 6.46 14% 11.29 9% 7.17

 Boneless Leg Half............... 3% 6.96 -- -- -- -- 1% 7.99

Rack Cuts 

 Rack................................. 6% 16.96 14% 12.15 25% 21.59 6% 16.27

 Rack, frenched.................... 1% 20.34 14% 13.83 4% 21.99 2% 19.89

 Rack, corwn roast............... 0.3% 22.90 -- -- 34% 21.89 -- --

 Rib chops............................ 1% 21.20 -- -- -- -- 0.1% 12.99

Shoulder Cuts

 Shldr, blade-bone chop........ 9% 5.15 4% 5.27 0.3% 2.99 5% 5.01

 Shldr, round-bone chop........ 12% 6.06 3% 5.41 -- -- 5% 5.05

Other Cuts

 Loin chops.......................... 10% 10.80 17% 7.74 -- -- 6% 10.19

 Foreshanks......................... 2% 5.93 -- -- -- -- 1% 5.47

 Breast................................ 0.4% 3.77 -- -- -- -- -- --

 Ground lamb, 80% lean........ 2% 7.25 7% 5.94 -- -- 0.0% 3.79

1

: product country of origin not identified in supermarket circular. 

37% 75%

0%

0.3% 11%

7%

63% 8%

57%

8%

21%

14%

42%

27%

7%

24%

Domestic Australia New Zealand Not Identified1

32% 43% 5% 20%