USDA Mid-Year Sheep Inventory
Down 2% At 8.1 Million Head

WASHINGTON —(USDA)— The U.S. sheep and lamb inventory on July 1 was down two percent from a year ago at 8.1 million head. Breeding sheep numbers declined two percent to 4.78 million head. Market sheep and lambs, including newborn lambs, were down two percent at 3.32 million head.

Of the July 1 breeding herd, 3.98 million head were ewes one year old and older, 185,000 head were rams one year old and older, and 615,000 head were replacement lambs.

Market lambs on hand July 1 included 1.925 million weighing under 65 pounds, off 25,000 head from a year ago. There were 690,000 head weighing 65-84 pounds, off 10,000 head, 385,000 weighing 85-105 pounds, off 15,000, and 250,000 weighing over 105 pounds, off 30,000 head.

The 200l lamb crop is expected to be down four percent at 4.31 million head. Lambs born the first six months totaled 3.84 million head and 470,000 head are expected to be born the last six months of the year.

The six western states had 1.43 million sheep on hand July 1, the same as a year ago. Texas and New Mexico numbers were off two percent at 1.74 million head. Four Mountain states and South Dakota had three percent fewer sheep on hand at 2.8 million head. Midwest states west of the Mississippi and North Dakota were down four percent at 1.22 million head. States east of the Mississippi were down two percent at 910,000 head.

Breeding sheep numbers in the western states were unchanged at 900,000 head. Other areas were slightly lower than a year ago; Texas and New Mexico had 1.13 million head, Mountain states 1.5 million, the Midwest 670,000 head, and the eastern states 580,000 head.

Market sheep numbers held steady in the West at 530,000 head. The Texas-New Mexico was off a little at 610,000 head, as were the Mountain states at 1.3 million head and the Midwest at 550,000 head. The East was steady at 330,000 head.

Replacement lambs are off 25,000 head at 615,000 head. The Western states held steady, Texas-New Mexico off slightly at 135,00; the Mountain states were off 10,000 at 175,000; the Midwest down 5000 at 95,000, and the East off 5000 at 110,000.

The lamb crop in 2002 is expected to be 108 percent of ewes one year old or older. The Western states expect 100 percent at 790,000 head. Texas and New Mexico expect a 90 percent lamb crop at 780,000 head, Mountain states are at 111 percent and 1.4 million, the Midwest area 138 percent at 710,000 head, and the East 116 percent at 630,000 head.