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

PRODUCTION: Commercial lamb and mutton production decreased 15% in June to 

11.4 million pounds, 7% below the June 2018 level. Commercial sheep and lamb 

slaughter in June was down 16% to 175,300 head, 2% under last year. The average sheep 

and lamb live weight gained two pounds to a 130 pound average, 8 pounds lighter than 

a year ago. The average dressed lamb carcass weight, at 68 pounds, was up a pound 

from may but 3 pounds lighter than 2018. Mature sheep slaughter decreased 19% in 

June to 8,800 head, 3% under June 2018. Stocks of lamb and mutton in cold storage in 

June increased 4% to 40.0 million pounds, 3% over the level in June 2018. 

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

month of July increased 2% over June and over July 2018. Most regions saw an increase 

in overall lambs graded with the Midwest being the exception, down 1% overall from 

June. Nationally, the number of lambs qualifying for the Choice grade was unchanged 

from last month but was 6% over July 2018 but the Choice share of all lambs graded was 

down 2% to 92%. The Ohio Valley reversed course from June and had a 31% rise in the 

number of lambs grading Choice in July while the Upper Midwest and the Mountain 

State regions experienced a 6% and 2% decline, respectively. Nationally, the share of 

lambs qualifying for YG 3 gained 2% as lamb yields shifted to the less finished as both 

lambs eligible for YG 4 and 5 lambs saw a slight decrease. Lambs in the Mountain States 

had the largest shift (8%) from YG 4-5 lambs to YG 3 while lambs in the Northwest saw 

a 10% rise in lambs qualifying for YG 1. 

Lamb Markets Overview

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

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

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 % - July 2019

19-Jul

19-Jun

18-Jul

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

YG1 YG2 YG3 YG4 YG5

Regional Choice Lamb by Yield Grade - July 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 – August 2019

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

July, at 20,100 head, increased 8% from June, 105% above July 2018. Prices gained a 

percentage point (from $159.81 to $161.26 per cwt.) in July, 3% over 2018. In auction 

trading, the average monthly price in June for traditional Choice & Prime 2-3, slaughter 

lambs in Sioux Falls, SD, was $154.99 per cwt, down one percent from June on monthly 

receipts of 5,711 head, 65% more than in June. In San Angelo, TX, the monthly average 

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

$167.08 per cwt, an 11% gain for the month with receipts of 14,123, up 17% from June. 

At the New Holland, PA, sale in July, the monthly average price for Choice and Prime 2-

3 wooled and shorn non-traditional slaughter lambs was $199.72 per cwt., up 3% for the 

month on total monthly receipts of 12,305, 6% over June. 

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

cuts in June, at 13.9 million pounds, declined 19%, 15% under June 2018. Fresh imports

declined 16% in volume with a 2% gain in share to 43% while frozen lamb import volume 

was down 22% for the month. Australia sent 71% of total imports in June including 82% 

of fresh and 63% of frozen imports. New Zealand accounted for 27% of total lamb 

imports. Chile, Uruguay, Mexico, Iceland, and Canada accounted for the remaining 2%. 

Chile continued to send primarily lamb carcasses which made up the bulk of imports 

from Uruguay. Mexican imports were largely unspecified bone-in cuts. 

Imports of whole and half lamb carcasses, nearly all in frozen form, declined 13% from 

May, and made up 4% of import share. The overall volume of lamb leg imports declined 

24% and accounted for 6% of imports with fresh leg imports down 22% while frozen 

volume decreased 25%. Imports of loin cuts decreased 6% with an 11% decrease in 

frozen and a 6% decrease in fresh loin cuts. Loin cuts made up 12% of imports in June. 

Shoulder imports, 9% of imported volume in June, saw an overall 31% decline in volume, 

as in May, mostly for frozen shoulder cuts, down 51% in volume. 

The volume of imported bone-in lamb meat decreased 15% and increased import share 

by 2% to 38%. This decline was evenly shared by both fresh and frozen cuts. Imports of 

other boneless lamb cuts, not identified, decreased 25% in June and lost 2$ of import 

share to 30%. Fresh and frozen imports were down equally. 

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

120

135

150

165

180

195

210

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

dollars per cwt

Sioux Falls Auction Slaughter Lambs (CH/PR wooled/shorn) 2019 2018 2017

Australia

71.8%

New Zealand

27.2%

Canada

0.041%

Iceland

0.012%

Chile

0.58%

Mexico

0.15%

Uruguay

0.16%

Other

0.88%

Fresh/Frozen Lamb Imports by Origin (totals to date)
Source: USDA AMS Agricultural Analytics Division (www.ams.usda.gov/services/market-research/aad) Lamb Markets Overview – August 2019

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

carcasses in July declined 27% from June with trading volume 29% under July 2018. The 

gross lamb carcass cutout rose 1% in July to $3.97 per pound, 4% above July 2018. The 

volume of negotiated wholesale trading of fresh and frozen domestic boxed lamb cuts 

in July decreased 18% for the month, unchanged from last year’s level. Negotiated 

trading of fresh cuts declined 16% in volume and accounted for 87% of total sales – a 

3% increase. The volume of frozen cut trading decreased 32% during the month.

Traded volume of all lamb cuts declined in July with fresh trotter-off legs down 15% while 

prices were unchanged at $3.88 per pound, representing a 13% decline in sales volume 

from last year but at a price 5% over the average price in July 2018. The volume of sales 

of boneless legs declined 6% and the average monthly price was down 1% (from $5.34

to $5.40 per pound). Sales of medium 8-rib racks decreased 6% and the average price 

was up 1% (from $8.79 to $8.84 per pound). Frenched racks sales declined 9% in July

and prices rose a percent (from $16.27 to $16.38 per pound). The volume of trimmed 

4x4 loins trading was down 9% for the month while prices were unchanged at $5.28 per 

pound. Foreshank trading volume declined 33% and with a 3% uptick in the average 

price (from $4.22 to $4.33 per pound). Trading of square-cut shoulder cuts decreased 

14% while prices rose 1% (from $3.06 to $3.10 per pound). Trading of ground lamb 

decreased 27% for the month and prices gained 1% (from $5.70 to $5.75 per pound). 

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

lamb cuts decreased 29% in July, 6% above the July 2018 level. Sales of fresh product 

was up 37% for the month while frozen cut sales gained 23% for the month. Imports 

accounted for 76% of all boxed lamb cut sales in July, a 9% increase in share. 

The overall volume of sales of fresh and frozen Australian boxed lamb cuts rose 37% in 

July, led by a 66% rise in fresh cut sales 

with a 17% rise in frozen cuts. Except 

for racks, the volume of sales of fresh 

Australian imports was up, most for 

shoulder cuts with a 93% increase

followed closely by loin cuts up 62% in 

sales volume. Sale prices for shoulder 

cuts were down 4% during the month 

while loin prices declined 3%. Sales 

volume of frozen Australian cuts was

up during the month led by a 107% 

rise in frozen rack sales followed by a 

10% increase in sales of leg and 

shoulder cuts. 

3.7

3.7

3.8

3.8

3.9

3.9

4.0

4.0

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

5.1

5.2

5.3

5.4

5.5

5.6

20

40

60

80

100

120

pounds in thousands

dollars per pound

Loins, Trimmed 4x4 (232) volume v. price 2019 2018 2019$ 2018$

Negotiated Sales of Imported Lamb - July

(change in primal price and sales volume)

Fresh price lbs. price lbs.

racks 98 128 -- --

loins 97 162 -- --

legs 101 108 -- --

shoulders 96 193 -- --

foreshanks 100 77 -- --

Frozen

racks 95 207 100 130

legs 99 110 -- --

shoulders 101 110 -- --

foreshanks 101 101 -- --

Australia New Zealand

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

Sales of fresh Australian racks were up 28% in July with a 2% drop in the average sale 

price. Frozen racks saw a 107% rise in sales while prices declined 5%. Sales of fresh 

Australian shoulder cuts rose 93% and prices slumped 4% while frozen shoulder cuts 

posted a 10% gain in sales volume with a one percent gain in price. Fresh Australian leg 

cut sales rose 8% with a one percent gain in price while frozen legs posted a 10% sales 

volume increase and a one percent decline in price. Sales of fresh Australian foreshanks 

dropped sharply, down 23% from June levels with no change in sale price while frozen 

foreshanks saw a one percent gain in sales volume and price. Australian boxed loin cut 

sales were up 62% in July while prices were down 3%. Sales of imported frozen New 

Zealand rack rose 30% while the average sales price for the month was unchanged. 

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

imported, fresh and frozen, in July increased 62%, 38% over the July 2018 level. Featuring 

of leg cuts decreased following their sharp rise last month as promotions of butterflied 

leg cuts evaporated in July as quickly as they increased in June. The share of retail 

featuring of leg cuts declined to 10% of all lamb cut features in July. The average ad 

price for leg cuts rose 35%. Featuring of rack cuts doubled in July but prices were only 

one percent over the average from the prior month. Racks increased ad share to 9%. 

Marketing of loin chops was significantly more active in July, up 126% over the pace in 

June with a 9% increase in the average ad price. Loin features increased ad share to 40% 

and led all other lamb cuts in promotional activity. Featuring of shoulder cuts during the 

month also became more active with the pace of offerings rising 125% with a drop in the 

average ad price and a 6% increase in ad share to 33%. Blade chop offerings rose 110% 

with a 10% drop in ad price while their round-bone counterparts saw a 196% rise in 

offerings with a 7% drop in price. Ground lamb increased sharply in features from June 

but retailers toed the line on ad price – unchanged for 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

July 2019 23.6%

July 2019 76.4%

June 2019 32.9%

June 2019 67.1%

July 2018 24.6%

July 2018 75.4%

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)

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

5.0

5.5

6.0

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$

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

7.0

7.5

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

leg 10% loin 40%

rack 9%

shoulder

32%

breast 0.7%

grnd/stew 6%

shank 2%

July Retail Feature Share

leg 28%

loin 35%

rack 4% shoulder 27%

breast 0%

grnd/stew 3%

shank 3%

June Retail Feature Share

PRODUCTION: 1/ Jun 19 May 19 change DIRECT SLAUGHTER LAMB: Jul 19 Jun 19 change

Sheep Meat Production (lbs.)................... 11,400,000 13,400,000 85 CH/PR, wooled/shorn (head).............................. 20,100 18,600 108

Commercial Sheep Slaughter (head)......... 175,300 209,200 84 price ($/cwt)................... 161.26 159.81 101

Fed. Insp. Lamb Slaughter (head)............... 142,700 171,200 83 *AUCTION SLAUGHTER LAMB (shorn/wooled):

Live Sheep Weight (lbs.).............................. 130 128 102 Sioux Falls, CH/PR, 2/3 (head)........................... 5,711 3,464 165

Dressed Carcass Lamb Weight (lbs.)......... 68 67 101 price ($/cwt)...................... 154.99 155.79 99

New Holland, CH/PR, 2/3 (head)....................... 12,305 11,643 106

COLD STORAGE: price ($/cwt)................... 199.72 193.09 103

Lamb/Mutton in Storage (lbs.).................. 40,025,000 38,484,000 104 San Angelo, CH/PR, 2/3 (head).......................... 14,123 12,102 117

price ($/cwt)................... 167.08 150.10 111

IMPORTS: 

Total Fresh/Chilled (lbs.).................................5,891,626 6,982,693 84 LAMB CARCASS:

Total Frozen (lbs.).............................................7,969,701 10,207,391 78 National Lamb Carcass Sales (head)............... 7,283 9,909 73

Total (lbs.).........................................................13,861,328 17,190,084 81 Lamb Carcass Gross Cutout ($ per pound)...... 3.97 3.92 101

LAMB GRADED: Jul 19 Jun 19 change BOXED LAMB CUTS:

Choice (head)................................................ 73,055 72,796 100 Domestic Fresh Boxed Lamb Sales (lbs.)......... 3,837,374 4,555,567 84

Prime (head)................................................... 6,491 4,948 131 Imported Fresh Boxed Lamb Sales (lbs.)............ 6,671,245 4,853,688 137

(current month grading numbers are preliminary and subject to change) Imported Frozen Boxed Lamb Sales (lbs.)......... 7,588,078 6,176,089 123

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 – August 2019

Pasture and Range Condition: In July 2019, just over half of the nation’s pastures and ranges were rated 

to be in good condition as moisture levels continued positive for forage crops in the major lamb production 

regions. While there was a slight shift from excellent to fair and lesser ratings, pastures remained in

sufficient condition. Of the major lamb production regions, Rocky Mountain pastures continue to have the 

best combined good and excellent rating with 72%, a 2% decrease from June. Conditions in the Upper 

Midwest continued to improve with an 3% rise in the combined good-excellent rating in July. Minnesota 

saw the best conditions for the month with 75% of pastures rated as good-excellent. The Northwest had 

the weakest conditions with just half rated good or better and 22% as poor or lower. 

(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 July, the average estimated per pelt credits returned to producers for unshorn 

pelts decreased for the Supreme and Premium grades with all other types unchanged. The share of unshorn 

pelts increased 27% from June to 46% of all pelts as shearing season peaked. Credits for shorn pelts 

declined for the higher quality categories and were unchanged for fair to damaged pelts. 

Trading of domestic wool was untested in July. 

Northwest

Rocky Mountain

Upper Midwest

Ohio Valley

Lamb regions

% 50 55 60 65 70 75

July Range Conditions - Good to Excellent

June

June

June

June

June

July

July

July

July

July

Northwest

Rocky Mountain

Upper Midwest

Ohio Valley

Lamb regions

% 30 35 40 45 50 55 60

July Range Conditions - Good

Jul Avg Lamb Pelt Credit Prices

credit change credit change

Supreme 0.22 -1.41 -0.16 -1.03

Premium -1.00 -0.38 -0.75 -0.38

Standard -2.00 0.00 -1.59 -0.22

Fair -2.00 0.00 -1.75 0.00

Mixed -1.38 0.00 -2.38 0.00

Damaged -1.88 0.00 -2.38 0.00

Consist % 46% 54%

Unshorn Shorn