U.S. Sheep Inventory Continues
To Decline; Down 38% From 1990

WASHINGTON —(USDA)— The January 1, 2000 U.S. sheep inventory at 7.03 million head was no surprise at three percent less than a year ago and 38 percent below 10 years ago. The inventory has been in an erratic but somewhat steady decline since 1942 when numbers peaked at 56.2 million head.

Breeding sheep numbers declined three percent from last year at 5.16 million head. Ewes one year and older were off two percent at 4.23 million head.

Market sheep and lambs were down three percent at 1.86 million head. Market lambs made up 96 percent of the total and sheep the other four percent. Lambs weighing more than 105 pounds were up eight percent from a year ago at 542,400 head, 85-105 pounds down seven percent at 477,000 head, 65-84 pounds down five percent at 313,000 head, and under 65 pounds down eight percent at 450,600 head.

The 1999 lamb crop was down six percent at 4.72 million head and set a record low. The lambing rate was down one percentage point at 109 percent.

The number of sheep operations in 1999 was down three percent at 66,800. The average number of sheep per operation was unchanged at 105 head.

Sheep and lamb numbers on January 1 in the major producing states show Texas, the largest producer, off 11 percent at 1.2 million head; breeding sheep were off 100,000 head at 950,000, and market sheep were off 50,000 at 250,000 head. California sheep numbers were off one percent at 800,000 head overall, breeding sheep off 10,000 at 380,000 and market sheep unchanged at 420,000 head. Wyoming all sheep numbers were off 10 percent at 570,000, breeding off 20,000 at 460,000, and market off 40,000 at 150,000 head.

Colorado all sheep were unchanged at 440,000 head, breeding off 10,000 head at 210,000 and market up 10,000 at 230,000 head. South Dakota was unchanged at 420,000, breeding off 5000 at 320,000 and market up 5000 at 100,000 head. Utah was unchanged at 400,000 head, breeding steady at 360,000 and market at 40,000 head.

Total numbers in Montana were off three percent at 380,000 head, New Mexico up five percent at 290,000 head, Idaho up four percent at 275,000, Iowa up two percent at 265,000, Oregon off two percent at 210,000, and Minnesota off six percent at 165,000 head.

Replacement lamb numbers were off six percent at 729,500 head. Texas was off 20,000 head at 120,000, Wyoming unchanged at 82,000 head, Montana off 9000 at 57,000 head, California unchanged at 45,000, South Dakota off 5000 at 41,000, Utah off 6000 at 39,000, Idaho off 6000 at 35,000, and New Mexico off 5000 at 30,000 head.