2022 Alberta lamb and sheep market update

Alberta bucks the trend in live lamb prices.

“Provincial live lamb prices as reported by Statistics Canada show an annual decrease in 2022 compared to 2021 for all provinces except Alberta,” says Ann Boyda, provincial livestock market analyst with the Alberta government. “Alberta average live weight price was reported at $242.44 per hundredweight for 2022, up 4.7% from 2021. Ontario has normally been the benchmark market for western pricing. Quebec reported an average live lamb price of $286.98 per hundredweight, down 7% from 2021.”

Edmonton, AB – January 23, 2023, Alberta Canola is pleased to welcome four new directors to the Board, Christi Friesen from Brownvale, Paula Law from Lacombe, Jeannette Andrashewski from Two Hills, and Cheryl Westman from Vermilion. Friesen will represent Region 1, Law Region 7, Andrashewski region 4, and Westman region 10.

Following the 33rd Annual General Meeting held on January 17, 2023 in Lethbridge, at the 1st annual Alberta Canola Conference, the Board re-elected both Roger Chevraux of Killam as the Chair, and Ian Chitwood of Airdrie as the Vice Chair.

Monthly Lamb Live Weight Prices

Auction market price volatility increased in 2021 and 2022. In 2021, average weekly price for heavy weight lambs peaked in January at $396.50 per hundredweight, but declined to a low of $182.50 per hundredweight during the first week of October. In 2022, average weekly price for heavy lamb rose to $316.50 per hundredweight the first week of May but plummeted to a low of $134 per hundredweight in mid-August. Light weight lamb prices experienced even more dramatic swings in 2022.

“Alberta Canola would like to thank outgoing directors, Dan Doll, John Mayko, Mike Ammeter and Cale

Staden for all their hard work over the last six years. Representing Alberta’s canola growers and the different needs of their regions helped the Board exercise good judgement and make sound decisions,” said Roger Chevraux. “The Board is grateful for their contributions and diverse perspectives.”

During the Annual General Meeting Alberta’s canola growers voted to approve the new draft bylaws as presented. Alberta Canola would like to thank Marketing Council staff for their guidance during this process. The next steps before the Bylaws and new Marketing Plan Regulation come into effect are to gain approval from the Marketing Council board and the Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation.

Average Weekly Alberta Heavy and Light Lambs

Boyda points out provincial slaughter has followed a seasonal trend in 2022 but adds the total slaughter volume of 22,980 head was 8% low- er than 2021, nearly 23% lower than 2020 and almost 11% lower than the 5-year average.

Alberta Monthly Provincially Inspected Sheep/Lamb Slaughter

“Alberta has maintained a relatively stable market in light of the recent sale of an Alberta lamb processing plant and Iron Springs feedlot to Préval Ag,” says Boyda. “The Quebec-based company is recognized as a leader in the agri-food indus- try (veal, beef, lamb, field crops, horticulture and grain processing). With Préval Ag’s strong foothold in the international market, the future for the Alberta lamb sector looks brighter.”