Sheep And Goats

January 1 Sheep and Lambs Inventory Down 2 Percent

All sheep and lambs inventory in the United States on January 1, 2024 totaled 5.03 million head, down 2 percent from 2023. Breeding sheep inventory at 3.67 million head on January 1, 2024, decreased 2 percent from 3.74 million head on January 1, 2023. Ewes one year old and older, at 2.87 million head, were 2 percent below last year. Market sheep and lambs on January 1, 2024 totaled 1.36 million head, down 2 percent from January 1, 2023. Market lambs comprised 94 percent of the total market inventory. Market sheep comprised the remaining 6 percent of total market inventory.

The 2023 lamb crop of 3.03 million head was down 2 percent from 2022. The 2023 lambing rate was 103 lambs per 100 ewes one year old and older on January 1, 2023, down 2 percent from 2022.

Shorn wool production in the United States during 2023 was 22.7 million pounds, down 2 percent from 2022. Sheep and lambs shorn totaled 3.22 million head, down 2 percent from 2022. The average price paid for wool sold in 2023 was $1.56 per pound for a total value of 35.3 million dollars, down 1 percent from 35.5 million dollars in 2022.

Sheep death loss during 2023 totaled 200,000 head, down 4 percent from 2022. Lamb death loss decreased 3 percent from 377,000 head to 365,000 head in 2023.

January 1 All Goats and Kids Inventory Down 2 Percent

All goats and kids inventory in the United States on January 1, 2024 totaled 2.47 million head, down 2 percent from 2023. Breeding goat inventory totaled 2.03 million head, down 2 percent from 2023. Does one year old and older, at    1.51 million head, were 2 percent below last year's number. Market goats and kids totaled 438,700 head, down 4 percent from a year ago.

Kid crop for 2023 totaled 1.52 million head for all goats, down 2 percent from 2022. 

Meat and all other goats totaled 1.95 million head on January 1, 2024, down 3 percent from 2023. Milk goat inventory was 415,000 head, up 1 percent from January 1, 2023, while Angora goats were down 2 percent, totaling 105,000 head.

Mohair production in the United States during 2023 was 505,000 pounds. Goats and kids clipped totaled 100,000 head. Average weight per clip was 5.1 pounds. Mohair price was $6.35 per pound with a value of 3.21 million dollars.