News
Sheep, lamb, goat inventories decline
The USDA says the U.S. sheep, lamb, and goat inventory declined from 2020 to 2021.
All sheep and lambs in the U.S. were 1% lower at 5.2 million head, with 1% decreases for the breeding inventory and ewes one year and older, while market sheep and lambs were unchanged. The lamb crop was 1% lower, but the lambing rate held steady. Shorn wool production was 4% lower at just over 23 million pounds, with a total value of $38.4 million, 15% less than the 2019 total of $45.4 million.
All goats and kids fell 3% to 2.6 million head, with the breeding inventory and does one year and older both down 3%, while the kid crop was up 1%. Meat and all other goats were down 2%, with milk goats 3% lower and Angora goats down 10%. Mohair production was 589,000 pounds with total value of $2.99 million.