U.S. Sheep Herd Expanding

FARGO - Sep 4/05 - SNS -- The U.S. sheep herd is expanding for the first time since 1990, says Tim Petry, North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension Service Livestock Marketing Economist.

"The USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service’s annual midyear sheep report indicated a U.S. sheep and lamb inventory of 7.8 million head, which is 2% above last year. This is the first time since 1990 that the midyear report has recorded an increase in numbers," Petry said in a recent analysis of the report.

"Sheep numbers generally have been declining since 1942, but the decline in the previous five years has been due to drought conditions in many Western sheep-producing states.

"Improved moisture conditions in several sheep-producing states in 2004 and continued improvement in many Western U.S. states in 2005 has allowed producers to consider flock rebuilding," Petry said.

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