Source: USDA AMS Agricultural Analytics Division (www.ams.usda.gov/services/market-research/aad) Lamb Markets Overview – December 2018

PRODUCTION: Commercial lamb and mutton production increased 15% in 

October, to 13.1 million pounds, 10% over the October 2017 level. 

Commercial sheep and lamb slaughter in October increased 16% to 199,900 

head, 9% over October 2017. The average sheep and lamb live weight dropped 

a pound to average 131, 2 pounds over 2017. The average dressed lamb 

carcass weight, at 68 pounds, was down one pound from September and 2

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

declined 3% at 39.3 million pounds, 24% above the October 2017 level. 

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

USDA in November was unchanged from the prior month and was down 5% 

from November of last year. The share of lambs qualifying for the Choice grade

decreased 3% to 91%. While the number of lambs qualifying for Prime rose 

through the month, lambs in the Rocky Mountains saw a 51% rise in Prime. 

Overall, lamb yields in November saw a seasonal shift to more YG 3-4’s as 

lambs tend to add more finish as temperatures decline. This trend was least 

pronounced in the Northwest which saw a 5% shift from YG 1-2’s to YG 3-4’s

but the Northwest remains the primary source of YG 2 lambs. 

Notwithstanding, the number of lambs qualifying for Prime in the Northwest 

in November actually nearly tripled, although Prime accounted for only 2% of 

total lambs graded in that region. 

 

Lamb Markets Overview

A monthly publication of the USDA AMS Livestock and Poultry Program, Agricultural Analytics Division December 2018

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 % - November 2018

18-Nov

18-Oct

17-Nov

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

YG1 YG2 YG3 YG4 YG5

Regional Choice Lamb by Yield Grade - November 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 – December 2018

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

basis in November increased 5% from October, 16% below November 2017. 

Prices were up and down through the month and finished down 2% (from 

$137.12 to $134.51 per cwt.), one percent below the level producers realized

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

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

$129.70 to $127.37 per cwt), one percent below 2017. In San Angelo, TX, the 

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

slaughter lambs increased 10% (from $105.25 to $115.64 per cwt.) for the 

month, down 8% from last year. At the New Holland, PA, sale, the average 

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

lambsin November was down one percent (from $149.31 to $147.46 per cwt.), 

8% below the November 2017 monthly average.

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

carcasses and cuts continued to decline through October, down 3% on the 

month and 27% under October 2017. Imports of both fresh and of frozen lamb 

were down with fresh down 4% and frozen down 2% for the month. The 

balance between fresh and frozen was unchanged in October with fresh at 

52% and frozen 48% of imported volume. Australia remains the primary 

source of lamb imports with 73 percent of lamb imports despite a 5% decline 

from volume shipped in September. New Zealand imports during the month 

increased 12% for a 26% share of total monthly lamb imports. Uruguay shipped 

39% more lamb in October than September while Icelandic imports dropped 

sharply, down 83% as demand for their products for the holiday marketing 

season are nearly complete. 

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

4% in October, 14% below the volume imported in October 2017. Imports of 

lamb legs rose 5% for the month and increasing their share of lamb imports by 

one percent, accounting for 8% of all lamb imports. The volume of imported 

shoulder cuts, fresh and frozen, declined 11% during the month, down 34% 

from 2017, and lost a one percent share of imports, down to 11.5%. Import

volume of loin cuts was unchanged with a slight gain in frozen loin volume but 

was down 22% from 2017. Loins lost one percent share of import volume 

share, accounting for 13% of all lamb imports. The volume of imported bonein lamb meat increased 6%, led by a 14% rise in frozen product and accounting 

for 30% of imports, up 3% in share. Imports of other boneless lamb cuts, not 

identified, the largest category of imported lamb at 32% of all imported lamb, 

rose 7% for the month, 42% below the volume of boneless lamb meat 

imported during October 2017. 

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) 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
Source: USDA AMS Agricultural Analytics Division (www.ams.usda.gov/services/market-research/aad) Lamb Markets Overview – December 2018

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

carcasses in November increased 20% from October, 18% above last year’s 

level. The gross lamb carcass cutout was unchanged at $3.79 per pound, 2%

below November 2017. The volume of negotiated wholesale trading of fresh 

and frozen domestic boxed lamb cuts in November increased sharply, up 34%

for the month on trading to support coming holiday business. Trading was 

12% above last year’s pace. Negotiated trading of fresh cuts increased 34% in 

volume and accounted for 86% of total sales. The volume of frozen cut trading 

increased 5% for the month and accounted for 14% of total domestic volume. 

In November, traded volume for most lamb cuts increased across the board

from October led by holiday favorite leg and rack cuts. The volume of 

wholesale sales of fresh trotter-off legs rose 66% with a one percent decline in 

price (from $3.63 to $3.57 per pound). This volume was 15% above last year’s 

level and the average price was one percent over last year. Sales of medium 

8-rib fresh racks rose in preparation for the coming holiday season, up 43% for 

the month and 39% from last year. The average price was unchanged at $8.65

per pound, down 2% from last year. Frenched racks rose 35% in volume and 

declined one percent in price. The volume of trimmed 4x4 loins trading 

increased 2% as did the average price (from $5.40 to $5.52 per pound), 5%

under last year. Foreshank prices were up one percent (from $4.16 to $4.20

per pound), down 3% from last year. Trade volume was up sharply, rising 25%

for the month in a continuation of last month’s trend; 30% over last year’s 

trading. Square-cut shoulder prices decreased one percent (from $2.86 to 

$2.84 per pound) and sales volume rose 23% from the prior month’s 

movement while lagging last year’s pace by 24%. Trading of ground lamb 

(80/20) gained 3% from the prior month and year. The average price was up 

one percent (from $5.70 to $5.77 per pound) from last month, 2% over last 

year. 

IMPORTED MEAT TRADE: The overall volume of negotiated sales imported 

boxed lamb cuts decreased 19% in November, 10% below 2017. Sales of fresh 

product declined 10% for the month while frozen cut sales dropped sharply, 

down 23% as marketer needs for the December holidays are about covered.

Imports accounted for 62% of all boxed lamb cut sales in November, down 10%

in share from October. 

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

decreased 38% as marketer’s needs for the coming holiday are largely met.

Sales of imported fresh legs increased by a factor of 5, targeting the key 

November-December holiday demand season. Most other fresh lamb 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

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

6.5

7.0

7.5

8.0

8.5

9.0

9.5

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

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

dollars per pound

pounds in thousands

Rack, 8-Rib, Medium (204) volume v. price 2018 2017 2018$ 2017$
Source: USDA AMS Agricultural Analytics Division (www.ams.usda.gov/services/market-research/aad) Lamb Markets Overview – December 2018

posted declines in sales volume, 

especially racks, as marketing 

needs have been met. 

Foreshanks did post a 28% rise in 

volume as this is a popular cut 

through the December holidays. 

Average prices for fresh racks and 

shoulders rose 6% while prices for 

all other lamb cuts declined in a 

range of 1-6%. 

Sales of frozen Australian lamb 

cuts were, with the exception of 

legs, down from the prior month. 

Leg sales rose 8% in volume and 

the average price was unchanged. Frozen shoulder volume dropped by near 

half but posted a 3% price gain. Sales of frozen Australian racks declined 6%

with a 5% rise in the average price while foreshanks posted a 31% drop in sales 

volume with a 7% increase in price. The volume of sales of frozen rack cuts 

from New Zealand in November declined sharply, down 36%, 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 November, 

both domestic and imported, fresh and frozen, was up 39% from the pace of 

October featuring but was one percent below the level of retail promotions in 

November 2017. Featuring of lamb leg cuts saw the largest increase in activity, 

up 49% in feature share while the average ad price declined 6%. Much of the 

gain in share was at the expense of shoulder cuts which experienced a 29% 

decline in ad share for the month. The average ad price rose 2% for blade 

chops but round-bone chop ad prices declined 14%. Retail feature activity for 

loin cuts was about unchanged for the month but lost 8% marketing share as 

leg promotions overwhelmed all other cuts. Racks saw similar treatment by 

retailers as loins with marketing share down 5% despite a fairly consistent level 

of featuring, Retail feature activity for ground lamb and stew meat decreased 

7% in activity as focus shifted to whole cuts for the coming holiday season. 

Nov. Negotiated Sales of Imported Lamb

(change in primal price and sales volume)

Fresh price lbs. price lbs.

racks 106 33 -- --

loins 97 54 -- --

legs 94 533 -- --

shoulders 106 88 -- --

foreshanks 99 128 -- --

Frozen

racks 105 94 101 64

legs 100 108 -- --

shoulders 103 54 -- --

foreshanks 107 69 -- --

Australia New Zealand

percent change

Nov 2018 36.4%

Nov 2018 58.3%

Oct 2018 28.3%

Oct 2018 71.7%

Nov 2017 30.7%

Nov 2017 69.3%

domestic

imported

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

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

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 – December 2018

leg 55%

loin 19%

rack 9%

shoulder

12%

breast 0.48%

grnd/stew 2%

shank 2%

November Retail Feature Share

leg 6%

loin 27%

rack 14%

shoulder

42%

breast 0.2%

grnd/stew 9%

shank 2%

October Retail Feature Share

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

Sheep Meat Production (lbs.)................... 13,100,000 11,400,000 115 CH/PR, wooled/shorn (head).............................. 13,700 13,100 105

Commercial Sheep Slaughter (head)......... 199,900 172,700 116 price ($/cwt)................... 134.51 137.12 98

Fed. Insp. Lamb Slaughter (head)............... 166,900 140,200 119 AUCTION SLAUGHTER LAMB:

Live Sheep Weight (lbs.).............................. 131 132 99 Sioux Falls, CH/PR, 2/3, 90-150 lb. (head)...... 3,288 3,753 88

Dressed Carcass Lamb Weight (lbs.)......... 68 69 99 price ($/cwt)................... 127.37 129.70 98

New Holland, CH/PR, 2/3, 90-150 lb. ($/cwt) 147.46 149.31 99

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

Lamb/Mutton in Storage (lbs.).................. 39,320,000 40,466,000 97 Shorn price ($/cwt)................... 116.18 105.25 110

Wooled price ($/cwt)................... 115.09 105.25 109

IMPORTS:

Total Fresh/Chilled (lbs.)........................... 5,205,549 5,441,223 96 LAMB CARCASS:

Total Frozen (lbs.)............................................. 4,883,013 5,006,251 98 National Lamb Carcass Sales (head)............... 12,486 10,401 120

Total (lbs.).........................................................10,088,562 10,447,474 97 Lamb Carcass Gross Cutout ($ per pound)...... 3.79 3.79 100

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

Choice (head)................................................ 84,836 87,784 97 Domestic Fresh Boxed Lamb Sales (lbs.)......... 5,266,612 3,941,448 134

Prime (head)................................................... 8,523 6,028 141 Imported Fresh Boxed Lamb Sales (lbs.)............ 3,570,490 3,964,090 90

(current month grading numbers are preliminary and subject to change) Imported Frozen Boxed Lamb Sales (lbs.)......... 6,223,472 8,081,757 77

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 – December 2018

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 November, the average estimated per pelt credit returned to producers 

were unchanged to lower for unshorn lamb pelts with Premium class unshorn pelts suffering 

the largest decline. Credits for shorn pelts were likewise lower across all classes with Supreme

class shorn pelts seeing the largest credit decline. The share of unshorn pelts increased 3%in 

November, accounting for 65 percent of all pelts. 

Trading of domestic wool in November, both clean and greasy, went untested as trading is 

typically very limited as the market moves into the Autumn months. 

November Avg Lamb Pelt Credit Prices

credit change credit change

Supreme 1.88 -0.25 0.38 -1.75

Premium -0.25 -0.63 -0.88 -1.25

Standard -1.00 -0.25 -1.25 -0.13

Fair -0.75 0.00 -1.75 -0.13

Mixed -1.00 0.00 -2.38 0.00

Damaged -1.88 -0.50 -2.38 0.00

Consist % 65% 35%

Unshorn Shorn