Kentucky Sheep, Meat Goat Numbers Up; Milk Goats Down

Wednesday, February 2, 2022

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its Sheep and Goats report showing the Kentucky sheep inventory increased 2% from last year and the goat inventory increased 1% from last year. Data in the report are based on a survey of farmers conducted in January.

The total number of sheep and lambs in Kentucky on January 1, 2022 , was estimated at 59,000 head, up 1,000 head from the previous year's estimate. All breeding sheep and lambs were estimated at 45,000 head and all market sheep and lambs were estimated at 14,000 head. Breeding ewes were estimated at 36,000 head, up 1,000 head from last year and breeding rams were estimated at 2,000 head, unchanged head from last year. Replacement lambs were estimated at 7,000 head, down 1,000 head from 2021. Lamb crop for 2021 was estimated at 38,000 head, down 1,000 head from 2020.

All sheep and lambs inventory in the United States on January 1, 2022 totaled 5.07 million head, down 2% from 2021.

Breeding sheep inventory was estimated at 3.71 million head on January 1, 2022, down 2% from 2021. Ewes one year old and older were estimated at 2.91 million head, down 2% from last year. Market sheep and lambs on January 1, 2022 totaled 1.36 million head, down 3% from January 1, 2021. Market lambs comprised 94% of the total market inventory.

Market sheep comprised the remaining 6% of total market inventory. The 2021 lamb crop was estimated at 3.16 million head, down 2% from 2020. The 2021 lambing rate was 108 lambs per 100 ewes one year old and older on January 1, 2021, unchanged from 2020.

All meat and other goats in Kentucky were estimated at 54,000 head, up 1,000 head from January 2021.

Milk goats in Kentucky were at 5,500 head, down 500 head from the previous year's estimate.

All goats and kids inventory in the United States on January 1, 2022 totaled 2.55 million head, down 1% from 2021.

Breeding goat inventory totaled 2.09 million head, down 1% from 2021. Does one year old and older, at 1.55 million head, were down 1% from last year's number. Market goats and kids totaled 457,000 head, down 2 % from 2021. Kid crop for 2021 totaled 1.60 million head for all goats, down 3% from 2020. Meat and other goats totaled 2.03 million head on January 1, 2022, down 1% from 2021. Milk goat inventory was estimated at 410,000 head, down 2% from January 1, 2021, while Angora goats totaled 110,000 head, down 9% from last year.