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Sheep, lamb, goat herds shrink

There were fewer sheep, lambs, and goats in the U.S. at the start of this year than the start of last year. The numbers point to further contraction of the domestic herds this year, with smaller breeding inventories and lamb and kid crops, supporting prices if demand holds up.

The USDA says the sheep and lamb inventory fell by 2% to 5.065 million head, with all major categories below a year ago, with the 2021 lamb crop also 2% lower at 3.16 million head and a 3% decline in shorn wool production to 22.451 million pounds. The average wool price was up $.04 at $1.70 per pound, but the overall value fell $210,000 to $38.177 million.

The U.S. goat and kid inventory was down 1% at 2.55 million head, with the kid crop seeing a 3% year-to-year decrease to 1.601 million head.

Year-to-year sheep and lamb comparisons for applicable Brownfield states:

Illinois: Sheep & Lambs: 53,000 head, unchanged from January 1^st, 2021

Indiana: Sheep & Lambs: 60,000 head, unchanged from January 1^st, 2021

Iowa: Sheep & Lambs: 160,000 head, unchanged from January 1^st, 2021

Kansas: Sheep & Lambs: 65,000 head, down 7% from January 1^st, 2021

Michigan: Sheep & Lambs: 87,000 head, unchanged from January 1^st, 2021

Minnesota: Sheep & Lambs: 112,000 head, down 1% from January 1^st, 2021

Missouri: Sheep & Lambs: 97,000 head, down 3% from January 1^st, 2021

Nebraska: Sheep & Lambs: 73,000 head, down 1% from January 1^st, 2021

Ohio: Sheep & Lambs: 127,000 head, up 1% from January 1^st, 2021

South Dakota: Sheep & Lambs: 235,000 head, down 4% from January 1^st, 2021

Tennessee: Sheep & Lambs: 49,000 head, down 8% from January 1^st, 2021

Wisconsin: Sheep & Lambs: 82,000 head, down 5% from January 1^st, 2021