Canada’s lamb industry is quietly growing, buoyed by renewed consumer interests and prices at levels comparable to 1997.
The most recent North Central Sheep and Goat Sale at the Edmonton Stockyards had market lambs weighing 75 to 115 pounds selling from $89-$108.50 per hundredweight. Nearly 1,400 head sold.
Ontario paid even better for this same weight range at $121.15-$150.21.
Feeder lambs weighing 61 to 80 lb. were $92.50-$133 at Edmonton. Ontario was $115.16-$149.33.
Many lambs continue to go to the Ontario market where a larger ethnic base readily buys.
Exports to the United States are steady, particularly for those finished lambs weighing over 115 lb. Lamb carcasses destined for the U.S. are typically 75 to 85 lb.
“They like heavy lambs. That’s their style of lamb,” said Doug Laurie of the North Central sales office.
In Canada, a premium lamb weighs in around 95 to 110 lb.
During the first six months of this year, 29,065 live market lambs were shipped south. This is down slightly from last year’s exports of more than 30,000 head.
