Ohio Reports Increase in Sheep and Goat Inventory for 2024

By Andi Anderson

Ohio's livestock landscape reveals positive trends in the sheep and goat inventory, as reported by Ben Torrance, State Statistician of the USDA, NASS, Ohio Field Office. The January 1, 2024 inventory for sheep and lambs in Ohio reached 143,000 head, marking a notable increase of 7,000 from the previous year. Breeding sheep accounted for 114,000 head, contributing to the overall rise, while market sheep and lambs remained unchanged at 29,000 head. The state's lamb crop for 2023 recorded an increase of 7,000, totaling 103,000 head.

In contrast, the national sheep and lambs inventory on January 1, 2024, experienced a modest decline, totaling 5.03 million head, down 2 percent from the previous year. Breeding sheep inventory decreased by 2 percent to 3.67 million head, with ewes one year old and older showing a 2 percent decline at 2.87 million head. Market sheep and lambs also decreased by 2 percent, totaling 1.36 million head.

The shorn wool production in Ohio for 2023 remained steady at 83,000 head, with the wool production reaching 500,000 pounds, up 30,000 from the previous year. The average price paid for wool held at $0.55 per pound, resulting in a total wool value of $275,000, surpassing the 2022 value by $16,000.

On a national scale, shorn wool production during 2023 witnessed a 2 percent decrease, totaling 22.7 million pounds. The number of sheep and lambs shorn decreased by 2 percent to 3.22 million head. The average price paid for wool in 2023 was $1.56 per pound, resulting in a total value of $35.3 million, a 1 percent decrease from 2022.

The goat inventory in Ohio as of January 1, 2024, remained unchanged at 11,000 milk goats, with the meat and other goat inventory increasing by 1,000 to reach 50,000 head. The national goat and kids inventory experienced a 2 percent decrease, totaling 2.47 million head. Breeding goat inventory decreased by 2 percent to 2.03 million head, with does one year old and older showing a 2 percent decline at 1.51 million head. Market goats and kids decreased by 4 percent, totaling 438,700 head.

Ohio's livestock sector, particularly the sheep and goat segments, continues to demonstrate resilience and adaptability amid evolving national trends and market dynamics.

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