September 2005 - As of July 1, 2005, sheep and lamb inventory in the United States totaled 7.8 million head, 2-percent above one year ago. This information was released on Friday, July 22, by the U.S. Department of Agriculture?s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) in its July 2005 Sheep Report.
Other categories which experienced an increase in numbers over the last year include breeding sheep, as well as market sheep and lambs. Breeding-sheep and market-sheep and lamb inventories were 4.66 million and 3.14 million head, respectively, in the NASS report. The 2005 lamb crop is expected to total 4.12 million head, up 1 percent from the 2004 lamb crop of 4.1 million head.
Region III, which consists of Colorado, Montana, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming, accounted for 34 percent of all sheep and lambs. Region II, New Mexico and Texas, accounted for 19.2 percent; Region I, Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, for 16.7 percent; Region IV, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and Oklahoma, for 15.4 percent; and Region V, all other states, for 14.7 percent.
?This again is encouraging news for the sheep industry that herd rebuilding in the United States continues,? commentsPeter Orwick, American Sheep Industry Association executive director. ?More sheep helps strengthen all sectors of the industry from suppliers to lamb and wool processors and sheep-seedstock producers.?
All Sheep and Lamb Inventory: By Region and
|
|
2004 |
2005 |
% Change |
|
Region I |
1,290 |
1,300 |
101 |
|
Region II |
1,470 |
1,500 |
102 |
|
Region III |
2,600 |
2,650 |
102 |
|
Region IV |
1,180 |
1,200 |
102 |
|
Region V |
1,110 |
1,150 |
104 |
|
US Total |
7,650 |
7,800 |
102 |
States included in regions as follows: I ? AZ, CA, ID, NV, OR & WA; II ? NM & TX; III ? CO, MT, SD, UT & WY; VI ? IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND & OK; V ? all other states.