Texas Wool, Mohair
Down Sharply In 1999

AUSTIN — Fewer sheep and lambs shorn in 1999 along with lower wool prices pushed the value of the state’s wool production down 33 percent to $3.9 million.

The Texas Agricultural Statistics Service reports the state’s wool production down 14 percent at 7.96 million pounds. This is the lowest level on record. Texas sheared 1.17 million sheep and lambs, down 10 percent. The average fleece weight was 6.8 pounds compared with 7.1 pounds in 1998. The price per pound was down 14 cents at 49 cents per pound.

U.S. shorn wool production during 1999 was down five percent at 46.5 million pounds. Sheep and lambs shorn were off four percent at 6.15 million head. The average fleece weight was 7.57 pounds compared to 7.66 in 1998.

The average price paid for wool in 1999 was 38 cents per pound, for a total value of $17.9 million, down 39 percent.

Texas mohair production in 1999 was down 45 percent at 2.55 million pounds, and the lowest since 1912. A total of 375,000 Angora goats and kids were clipped for an average clip weight of 6.8 pounds. The number of goats clipped were off 40 percent and the average clip weight was down nine percent.

The value of Texas’ mohair production declined to $9.38 million. The price per pound averaged $3.68 in 1999 compared to $2.59 a year earlier.

Mohair production in the four major producing states, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Arizona in 1999 was down 43 percent at 2.9 million pounds. Goats and kids clipped was down 37 percent at 444,000 head. The average clip weight was 6.5 pounds compared to 7.2 pounds a year earlier. The value of mohair production was down 20 percent at $10 million.