Sheep Numbers Down 4%,
Smallest Number Ever

WASHINGTON —(USDA)— The all sheep and lamb inventory in the United States on January 1 was down four percent at 6.69 million head, five percent below two years ago. The inventory has trended downward since peaking at 56.2 million head in 1942.

Breeding sheep were down one percent at 4.91 million head. Ewes one year old and older were down three percent at 3.98 million head.

Market sheep and lambs were down 11 percent at 1.77 million head. Market lambs comprised 96 percent of the total, sheep four percent. Lambs under 65 pounds made up 25 percent, 65-84 pounds 17 percent, 85-105 pounds 23 percent and over 105 pounds 31 percent.

The 2001 lamb crop was down three percent at 4.5 million head and established a new record low. The 2001 lambing rate was 110 per 100 ewes one year old and older, compared with 109 in 2000.

The number of operations with sheep during 2001 was down one percent at 65,120.

Shorn wool production in the United States during 2001 was down seven percent at 43 million pounds. Sheep and lambs shorn were down seven percent at 5.69 million head. The average price paid for wool sold in 2001 was 36 cents per pound for a total value of $15.3 million dollars, down slightly from $15.4 million dollars in 2000.

The goat inventory in Texas on January 1 was down 11 percent at 1.25 million head. Mohair production in the three major producing states, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, was down 25 percent at 1.97 million pounds. Goats and kids clipped were down 23 percent at 310,000 head. Average weight per clip was 6.4 pounds compared with 6.5 pounds a year earlier. Value of mohair was down 60 percent at $4.2 million.