It seems that every day there is a new product somehow majorly affected by weather. Domestic lamb is the latest casualty. Between the upcoming Easter holiday and inclement weather in the mid-west, prices on prime lamb cuts have risen upwards of 40%.
Our friends at Mosner have seen a $0.14/lb increase on carcasses, which means a 100lb lamb now costs $14 more. If an average delivery consists of 1000 lambs, there is suddenly a $14,000 deficit. After accounting for the dwindled supply, the demand for prime cuts such as tenderloin, and the physical labor involved, it’s unsurprising that prices are up so high. We expect to see the market lighten up a bit after the Easter holiday and even more near mid-April as Spring Lamb come into market.
Now, why does weather affect lamb production? Lambs need specific weather conditions–cool and dry–for both feeding and transportation. A mild temperature naturally encourages lambs to gain weight quickly while warmer temperatures reduce gains. In addition, lambs drop weight during transportation. Cool temperatures during travel help to stabilize weight loss whereas warm temperatures facilitate weight loss. In this case, it was particularly cold weather that affected the lambs. Extreme cold stresses the lambs and inhibits adequate weight gain, resulting in shorts.
Pork chops anyone?
If you’re interested in the USDA Weekly National Lamb Market Summary, check it out here…http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/lswlamb.pdf
