oh-press-release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 01/29/10
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: JAMES E. RAMEY						
REYNOLDSBURG, OH					
614-728-2100

The number of sheep and lambs on Ohio farms on January 1, 2010, totaled
128,000 head, down 2 percent from the 2009 estimate. Total breeding
sheep inventory at 103,000 head, is up 3 percent from the previous year.
Ewes one year old and older are estimated at 81,000 head, up 4,000 head
from last year. Rams one year old and older are estimated at 6,000 head
on January 1, 2010 up 1,000 head from last year. Replacement lambs
decreased 2,000 to 16,000 head on January 1, 2010. The 2009 lamb crop is
estimated at 105,000 head, up 3 percent from the previous year. Total
market sheep & lambs at 25,000 head are down 17 percent from one year
ago. 

All sheep and lamb inventory in the United States on January 1, 2010,
totaled 5.63 million head, down 2 percent from 2009. Breeding sheep
inventory decreased to 4.19 million head on January 1, 2010, down 1
percent from 4.25 million head on January 1, 2009. Ewes one year old and
older, at 3.34 million head, were 2 percent below last year. 

Market sheep and lambs on January 1, 2010, totaled 1.44 million head,
down 4 percent from January 1, 2009. Market lambs comprised 94 percent
of the total marketings. Twenty-five percent were lambs under 65 pounds,
12 percent were 65 - 84 pounds, 19 percent were 85 - 105 pounds, and 38
percent were over 105 pounds. Market sheep comprised the remaining 6
percent of total marketings. 

The 2009 lamb crop of 3.69 million head, was down 1 percent from 2008.
The 2009 lambing rate was 108 lambs per 100 ewes one year old and older
on January 1, 2009, up 3 percent from 2008. 

Shorn wool production in the United States during 2009 was 30.9 million
pounds, down 6 percent from 2008. Sheep and lambs shorn totaled 4.20
million head, down 5 percent from 2008. The average price paid for wool
sold in 2009 was $0.79 per pound for a total value of 24.4 million
dollars, down 25 percent from 32.5 million dollars in 2008. 

All goat inventory in the United States on January 1, 2010, totaled 3.04
million head, down 1 percent from 2009. Breeding goat inventory totaled
2.53 million head, down 1 percent from 2009. Does one year old and
older, at 1.87 million head, were 1 percent below last year's number.
Market goats and kids totaled 518,000 head, down 2 percent from a year
ago. Kid crop for 2009 totaled 1.94 million head for all goats, down 1
percent from 2008. Meat and all other goats totaled 2.54 million head on
January 1, 2010, down slightly from 2009. Milk goat inventory increased
to 355,000 head, 6 percent above January 1, 2009, while Angora goats
were down 19 percent, totaling 150,000 head. 

Mohair production in the United States during 2009 was 1.01 million
pounds. Goats and kids clipped totaled 160,500 head. Average weight per
clip was 6.3 pounds. Mohair price was $2.66 per pound with a value of
2.69 million dollars.