The American Lamb Board’s (ALB) July market report is now available. The report indicates that both lamb imports and domestic production are down.
The report notes lamb weights are lighter than a year ago, and fewer imported pounds have resulted in a lower supply of lamb in the domestic market. Federally inspected lamb and yearling slaughter for July is 4 percent lower than 2022, and July production is about 10 percent less than last year. One positive number is mature sheep slaughter, which is lower than 2021 but averages 5 percent higher than 2022. This is being driven by larger cull ewe numbers in Arizona, California and Nevada.
But the report shows imports are significantly lower, which means more American lamb accounts for total lamb supply so far this year. Lamb imports were down 20 percent from 2022 for the first half of the year. Mutton imports for the first part of 2023 were reduced by 23 percent from last year.
The Livestock Marketing Information Center forecasts stronger prices, with feeder lamb prices about 3 to 4 percent higher and slaughter lamb prices up 30 percent.
More of this report can be found on the American Lamb Resource Center website.