nd-livestock NEWS RELEASE Sheep Inventory & Wool Production January 28, 2005 NORTH DAKOTA SHEEP INVENTORY North Dakota All sheep and lamb inventory in North Dakota on January 1, 2005, totaled 105,000 head, up 5 percent from 2003's revised 100,000 head, according to the North Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service. This was the second smallest state flock since records began in 1920 while January 1, 2004 was the smallest recorded. Breeding sheep inventory increased 7,000 head to 81,000. This was 9 percent higher than the last year's revised 74,000 head, and the second lowest since records began in 1905. Ewes one year old and older at 63,000 head, were up from 2003's revised 59,000. Rams were unchanged from a year ago at 2,000. Replacement lambs totaled 16,000 head, up from last year's revised 13,000. Market sheep and lambs totaled 24,000 head, down from 26,000 on January 1, 2004. Seventy percent of the market lambs were 85 pounds or more, down from 72 percent last year. Thirteen percent of the total were lambs less than 65 pounds, 17 percent were 65-84 pounds, 31 percent were 85-105 pounds and 39 percent were more than 105 pounds. Only 1,000 head of the total were market sheep while 23,000 were market lambs. The 2004 lamb crop of 88,000 head was up 4 percent from 2003's revised lamb crop of 85,000. The 2004 lambing rate was 149 per 100 ewes one year old and older on January 1, 2004, compared with 120 in 2003. Shorn wool production during 2004 was 745,000 pounds, up 15 percent from 2003. Sheep and lambs shorn totaled 82,000 head, up from 75,000 head during 2003. Average price paid for wool sold in 2004 was $0.75 per pound, up from $0.60 per pound in 2003. The total value of wool was $559,000, up 43 percent from $390,000 in 2003 which was due to higher volume of wool shorn and price per pound. United States All sheep and lamb inventory in the United States on January 1, 2005, totaled 6.14 million head, up slightly from 2004, but 3 percent below two years ago. The inventory has leveled off and is showing a slight increase for the first time since 1990. Breeding sheep inventory increased to 4.53 million head on January 1, 2005, up 1 percent from 4.50 million head on January 1, 2004. Ewes one year old and older, at 3.57 million head, were 1 percent below last year. Market sheep and lambs on January 1, 2005, totaled 1.60 million head, down slightly from January 1, 2004. Market lambs comprised 95 percent of the total marketings. Twenty-six percent were lambs under 65 pounds, 13 percent were 65 - 84 pounds, 24 percent were 85 - 105 pounds, 32 percent were over 105 pounds, and 5 percent were market sheep. The 2004 lamb crop of 4.10 million head, a record low, was down 1 percent from 2003. The 2004 lambing rate was 113 lambs per 100 ewes one year old and older on January 1, 2004, up 3 percent from 2003. Shorn wool production in the United States during 2004 was 37.6 million pounds, down 2 percent from 2003. Sheep and lambs shorn totaled 5.07 million head, down slightly from 2003. The average price paid for wool sold in 2004 was $0.80 per pound for a total value of $29.9 million dollars, up 6 percent from $28.1 million dollars in 2003. SHEEP INVENTORY, January 1 NORTH DAKOTA UNITED STATES Class 2004 2005 2004 2005 - 1,000 Head - - 1,000 Head - All Sheep and Lambs 100.0 105.0 6,105.0 6,135.0 Total Market 26.0 24.0 1,606.0 1,602.0 Lambs 25.0 23.0 1,540.4 1,527.9 Under 65 Pounds 3.0 3.0 431.5 413.2 65 to 84 Pounds 4.0 4.0 255.9 214.7 85 to 105 Pounds 11.0 7.0 366.8 381.9 Over 105 Pounds 7.0 9.0 486.2 518.1 Sheep 1.0 1.0 65.6 74.1 Total Breeding 74.0 81.0 4,499.0 4,533.0 Ewes, One Year & Older 59.0 63.0 3,609.5 3,572.5 Rams, One Year & Older 2.0 2.0 188.0 190.0 Replacement Lambs 13.0 16.0 701.5 770.5 Lamb Crop 1/ 85.0 88.0 4,140.0 4,096.0 From Breeding Ewes 1 yr + Jan 1 71.0 59.0 3,773.0 3,609.5 Rate Per 100 Ewes 1 yr + 120 149 110 113 1/ Preceding year. WOOL PRODUCTION AND VALUE Sheep Shorn Weight per Fleece Production State 1/ 2003 2004 2003 2004 2003 2004 -- 1,000 Head -- -- Pounds -- -- 1,000 Pounds -- North Dakota 75.0 82.0 8.7 9.1 650 745 California 500.0 480.0 7.0 7.1 3,500 3,400 Colorado 360.0 390.0 7.2 6.6 2,580 2,570 Minnesota 140.0 140.0 6.8 6.5 950 910 Montana 272.0 267.0 9.5 9.3 2,597 2,472 South Dakota 330.0 345.0 8.0 7.6 2,625 2,610 Texas 800.0 810.0 7.0 6.9 5,600 5,600 Wyoming 390.0 390.0 9.4 9.3 3,650 3,640 United States 5,074.0 5,073.0 7.5 7.4 38,299 37,622 1/ Published are a few selected states from the National release. 2/ Production multiplied by marketing year average price. WOOL PRODUCTION AND VALUE Production Price per Pound Value 2/ State 1/ 2003 2004 2003 2004 2003 2004 -- 1,000 Pounds -- -- Cents -- -- 1,000 Dollars -- North Dakota 650 745 60 75 390 559 California 3,500 3,400 79 82 2,765 2,788 Colorado 2,580 2,570 74 85 1,909 2,185 Minnesota 950 910 30 37 285 337 Montana 2,597 2,472 103 117 2,675 2,892 South Dakota 2,625 2,610 76 72 1,995 1,879 Texas 5,600 5,600 90 102 5,040 5,712 Wyoming 3,650 3,640 110 117 4,015 4,259 United States 38,299 37,622 73 80 28,126 29,931 1/ Published are a few selected states from the National release. 2/ Production multiplied by marketing year average price. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: David Knopf, Director North Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service NDSU, IACC Bldg., Room 448 P.O. Box 3166 Fargo, ND 58108-3166 Telephone: (701) 239-5306 E-Mail: nass-nd@nass.usda.gov Internet: http://www.nass.usda.gov/nd/