Welcome to Mountain State Lamb

Lambs in the pasture

Celebrating 10 Years

We will celebrate 10 years of successfully marketing quality lambs July 18-20, 2012, in Park City, Utah. Park City is a beautiful mountain resort area with many attractions. Our room rate of $109 at the Marriott Park City will be available for 3 days prior to, and 3 days after, our meeting dates if you would like to extend your visit. You can check out what the area has to offer by going to: www.visitparkcity.com.

You will not want to miss this special event so mark your calendars now. Registration and Hotel information will be in upcoming newsletters!

Mountain West and Etcheverry
Top Grid

Mountain West Lamb, LLC, Douglas, Wyoming marketed the top lambs in September and Etcheverry Sheep Company, Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, sent the top load in October.

The top September lambs graded 86% Y2’s and 8% Y3’s. They earned an average of $5.90 on the marketing grid and another $3.20 per head in natural premiums. In total, Mountain West Lamb, LLC earned $9.10 per head in premiums on the load, which was fed at Double J.

Etcheverry Sheep Company sent a load which graded 68% Y2’s and 29% Y3’s in October. They earned an average of $5.24 in market grid premiums and another $2.53 in natural premiums. Fed at Double J, the load garnered total premiums of $7.77.

The average Co-op lamb marketed in September earned $3.09 in market premiums and the average pelt returned $22.90. During October, the average market premium slipped to $2.68 and the average pelt returned $21.55.

Wool Marketing Options

Please be aware of two producer-driven wool marketing options with ties to Mountain States Lamb and Wool Cooperative. The first is Producer’s Marketing Cooperative based in Mertzon, Texas. Producer’s is a member of Mountain States Lamb Cooperative and their members market lambs through our co-op. Ronald Pope is their General Manager and he can be contacted at 325-835-7173 or 325-234-2925.

Also, a number of MSLW members are very active in Center of the Nation Wool based in Belle Fourche, SD. They can be reached at 605.892.6311 and Larry Prager is the Manager.

Colorado Check-Off Reminder

If you plan to apply for refunds on Colorado Check-off dollars, be sure to do so within the 30 day deadline. Bonnie Brown of the Colorado Sheep and Wool Authority reminds producers that year-end requests received after the 30 day deadline will not be reimbursed. If you have any questions, you can visit their website at www.coloradosheep.org or give Bonnie a call at 303-431-8310.

MSLW Board

Your MSLW Board of Directors elected officers for 2011-2012 at their July meeting. The Chairman is Frank Moore of Douglas, WY (307.358.2694). Vice Chairman is Brad Boner, Glenrock, WY (307.359.1162). Mark Wahl, Lebanon, OR will serve as Secretary-Treasurer (541.905.6064). Also serving as board members are Jay Hasbrouck, Ault, CO (970.371.0868) and Robert Oxarango, Rupert, ID (208.431.0777).

Market News to Ewes

Hopefully, everyone is making a nice progression into winter . The Colorado on Feed report calculated close to 370,000 lambs on feed as of November 1 . This is the most on feed since 2001 by about 63,000 head ! This will certainly put a strain on the current price levels as we move into December and thru the New Year. The challenge will be to keep weight levels of lambs in check and stretch that supply as long as possible . Industry leaders do not seem optimistic about demand sustaining current price levels . On a better note, the MSLC supply seems to be very current and on track for the next 4 months, barring any surprises concerning demand . The high numbers on feed have certainly affected other areas due to the fact that the Midwest still has some numbers to market compared to years past. Today's market is ranging from 1.66 to 1.74 depending on how the trade is negotiated.

Supply numbers do look like they will be very thin in April through July, therefore I'm recommending if producers have the resources to extend lambs on feed then that looks to be a profitable solution compared to upcoming down market.

The Pelt market is still strong for the membership and is forecasted to maintain current levels unless we see outside pressure from current end users . The top money earning pelts are unshorn, or if they are shorn must have at least 3/4" of wool length which estimates to about 80 days of wool growth . If your lambs are unshorn then they will need to be marketed by the end of February or the consequences could be a heavy discount.

All input costs for feeding lambs are staying strong especially with the rise of fuel to $4.00 and extreme shortage of hay in the southern states that in turn is drastically affecting our cost of gains.

Cost of gains are being reported from 1.20 to 1.75 per lb of gain which is mainly due to the type of lamb on feed.

I've been asked to forecast the weather, the new president and the upcoming market lamb prices. Instead, I'm forecasting Tebow to be the Superbowl MVP!

Brad Anderson, Procurement Manager
Happy Holidays

From the Board and Staff of Mountain States Lamb Co-op!