mn-press-releases MINNESOTA AG NEWS USDA, NASS MN Dept of Agriculture MINNESOTA FIELD OFFICE PO Box 7068, St. Paul, MN 55107 Douglas Hartwig, Director Phone: (651) 296-2230 Homepage: http://www.nass.usda.gov/mn/ E-mail: nass-mn@nass.usda.gov --------------------------------------------------------------------------- SHEEP AND GOATS Released: January 30, 2009 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- MINNESOTA’S SHEEP AND LAMB INVENTORY DOWN 3 PERCENT Minnesota’s January 1, 2009 sheep and lamb inventory was down 3 percent from last year to 140,000 head, according to USDA, NASS, Minnesota Field Office. Breeding stock numbers were down 4 percent at 102,000. The remaining inventory of 38,000 market lambs and sheep was down 3 percent from last year. Of the 38,000 total lambs and sheep for slaughter market, 1,000 were mature sheep (1 year old and older) and the remaining 37,000 were lambs under 1 year. Market lambs by weight group were estimated as follows: under 65 pounds: 8,000; 65-84 pounds: 8,000; 85-105 pounds: 10,000; over 105 pounds: 11,000. Minnesota’s 2008 lamb crop totaled 145,000 head, down 3 percent from the previous year. The 2008 lambing rate was 169 per 100 ewes one year old and older on hand January 1, 2008, compared with 172 per 100 ewes in 2007. MINNESOTA’S WOOL PRODUCTION DOWN 5 PERCENT FROM 2007 Minnesota’s 2008 wool output decreased 5 percent with production totaling 930,000 pounds compared with 980,000 pounds in 2007. Minnesota is ranked 11th in 2008 U.S. wool production. The 140,000 sheep and lambs shorn in 2008 were down 7 percent from 2007. Fleece weight averaged 6.6 pounds, up 0.1 pounds from the previous year. Value of the state’s 2008 wool production was $335,000, up 1 percent from the previous year’s value of $333,000. Average price per pound for 2008 was 36 cents, up 2 cents from the 2007 price. MINNESOTA’S MEAT AND OTHER GOAT INVENTORY DOWN 17 PERCENT Minnesota’s January 1, 2009 meat and other goat inventory, at 20,000, was down 17 percent from the January 1, 2008 figure. The milk goat inventory, at 11,500, was up 5 percent from the 2007 figure, while angora goats, at 1,000, were unchanged from last year. U.S. TOTAL SHEEP AND LAMB INVENTORY DOWN 3 PERCENT All sheep and lamb inventory in the United States on January 1, 2009, totaled 5.75 million head, down 3 percent from 2008. Breeding sheep inventory decreased to 4.25 million head on January 1, 2009, down 4 percent from 4.43 million head on January 1, 2008. Ewes one year old and older, at 3.40 million head, were 4 percent below last year. Market sheep and lambs on January 1, 2009, totaled 1.50 million head, down 1 percent from January 1, 2008. Market lambs comprised 95 percent of the total marketings. Twenty-three percent were lambs under 65 pounds, 11 percent were 65 - 84 pounds, 21 percent were 85 - 105 pounds, and 39 percent were over 105 pounds. Market sheep comprised the remaining 5 percent of total marketings. The 2008 lamb crop of 3.71 million head, was down 5 percent from 2007. The 2008 lambing rate was 105 lambs per 100 ewes one year old and older on January 1, 2008, down 3 percent from 2007. Shorn wool production in the United States during 2008 was 33.0 million pounds, down 5 percent from 2007. Sheep and lambs shorn totaled 4.43 million head, down 5 percent from 2007. The average price paid for wool sold in 2008 was $0.99 per pound for a total value of 32.5 million dollars, up 7 percent from 30.2 million dollars in 2007. U.S. TOTAL GOAT INVENTORY DOWN 2 PERCENT All goat inventory in the United States on January 1, 2009, totaled 3.07 million head, down 2 percent from 2008. Breeding goat inventory totaled 2.54 million head down 2 percent from 2008. All market goats and kids totaled 528,000 head, up 1 percent from a year ago. On January 1, 2009 meat and all other goats totaled 2.55 million head, down 2 percent from 2008. Milk goat inventory increased 4 percent to 335,000 head while angora goats were down 10 percent totaling 185,000 head. The 2008 kid crop totaled 1.96 million head for all goats, down 2 percent from 2007. Mohair production in the United States during 2008 was 1.18 million pounds. Goats and kids clipped totaled 193,500 head. Average weight per clip was 6.10 pounds. Mohair price was $3.31 per pound with a value of 3.91 million dollars. Goats: Number by Class, United States, January 1, 2008-2009 Item Total Breeding Market Kid Crop 1/ Head Head Head Head 2008 Angora 205,000 180,000 25,000 109,000 Milk 323,000 293,000 30,000 230,000 Meat 2,590,000 2,120,000 470,000 1,662,000 All 3,118,000 2,593,000 525,000 2,001,000 2009 Angora 185,000 166,000 19,000 96,000 Milk 335,000 302,000 33,000 240,000 Meat 2,550,000 2,074,000 476,000 1,627,000 All 3,070,000 2,542,000 528,000 1,963,000 1/ Kid Crop for 2008 refers to kids born in 2007. Kid Crop for 2009 refers to kids born in 2008.