January 1 Sheep and Lambs Inventory Down 2%

USDA’s Sheep and Goat’s report released this week shows all sheep and lambs inventory in the United States on January 1, 2024 totaled 5.03 million head, down two percent from last year. Breeding sheep inventory at 3.67 million head on January 1, 2024, decreased two percent from 3.74 million head in 2023. Ewes one-year-old and older, at 2.87 million head, were two percent below last year. Market sheep and lambs totaled 1.36 million head, down two percent, and market lambs comprised 94 percent of the total market inventory. Market sheep comprised the remaining six percent of the total market inventory. The 2023 lamb crop of 3.03 million head was down two percent from 2022, and the 2023 lambing rate was 103 lambs per 100 ewes one-year-old and older on January 1, 2023, down two percent from 2022. All goats and kids inventory in the United States on January 1, 2024, totaled 2.47 million head, down two percent from 2023.

Source: NAFB