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Lamb, sheep, goat inventories increase

USDA reports all sheep and lambs in the U.S. on January 1, 2015 totaled 5.280 million head, 1% above January 1, 2014. The breeding herd was pegged at 3.935 million head, 1% more than a year ago, with ewes one year old or older at 3.110 million head, also up 1%. Market sheep and lambs came out at 1.345 million head, unchanged on the year, with lambs representing 94% of the total market inventory. The 2014 lamb crop was 3.44 million head, 2% higher than 2013, with a lambing rate of 111 lambs per 100 ewes.

Wool production totaled 26.700 million pounds, 1% less than a year ago, with 3.680 million lambs and sheep shorn, also down 1%. The average price for wool sold in 2014 was $1.46 per pound, a total of $38.949 million, compared to $39.209 million in 2013.

All goats totaled 2.675 million head, a 2% year to year increase. The breeding herd was pegged at 2.204 million head, up 2%, with does one year and older at 1.647 million head, a 3% rise. Market goats and kids were reported at 471,000 head. The 2014 kid crop of 1.714 million head was 2% larger than 2013. Meat and all other goats came out at 2.105 million head, up 2%, with the milk goat inventory at 365,000 head and Angora goats at 160,000 head.

Mohair production totaled 880,000 pounds, with 159,000 goats and kids clipped. The average weight per clip was 5.5 pounds and the average price was $4.85 per pound, for total value of $4.27 million. In 2013, mohair brought $4.23 per pound for a total value of $3.3 million.