HDR1012000130070421951500Sheep
HDR2012000130070421951500Sheep Narrative

Released April 21, 1995, by the Agricultural Statistics Board.  Inventory
estimates refer to April 1, 1995.

       April 1, 1995, Sheep and Lamb Inventory Totals 9.91 Million Head

All sheep and lamb inventory in the United States on April 1, 1995, totaled
9.91 million head, 11 percent above January 1, 1995.  Since this is the
first April 1 sheep inventory report, comparisons to last year are not
available.  Total breeding sheep and lambs reached 6.28 million head, 2 percent
below January 1995.  Market sheep and lambs (including newborns) were
48 percent above January 1995.

Of the April 1 breeding herd, 5.19 million head were ewes one year old and
older, 265,000 head were rams, and 830,000 head were replacement lambs
(including newborn lambs).

Of the total market lambs (including newborn lambs), 66.4 percent were under
65 pounds, 9.5 percent were 65 to 84 pounds, 11.2 percent were 85 to
105 pounds, and the remainder, 12.9 percent, were over 105 pounds on April 1.

On April 1, lambing was 67 percent complete in Colorado, 86 percent complete in
Idaho, 59 percent complete in North Dakota, and 48 percent complete in South
Dakota.  Lambing in range flocks in Wyoming was 7 percent complete and in farm
flocks 72 percent.  In Utah it was 26 percent complete in range flocks and
52 percent in farm flocks.

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For information call Linda Simpson at (202) 720-3578.  Office hours are
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET.

Mt An 5-2 (4-95)


HDR2012000130070421951500All Sheep and Lambs Inventory

                   All Sheep and Lambs Inventory:  By Region
                and United States, January 1 and April 1, 1995
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             :    All Sheep    : Apr  :  Breeding Sheep :    Market Sheep
             :    and Lambs    : as % :     and Lambs   :     and Lambs
  Region 1/  :-----------------: of   :---------------------------------------
             :  Jan   :  Apr   : Jan  :   Jan  : Apr    :    Jan   :   Apr
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             :    1,000 Head     Pct    ----------- 1,000 Head -------------
             :
Region 1     : 1,967.0  2,080.0  106    1,232.0  1,150.0     735.0     930.0
             :
Region 2     : 2,015.0  2,310.0  115    1,615.0  1,500.0     400.0     810.0
             :
Region 3     : 2,800.0  2,725.0   97    2,003.0  2,025.0     797.0     700.0
             :
Region 4     : 1,055.0  1,380.0  131      737.0    715.0     318.0     665.0
             :
Region 5     : 1,058.0  1,415.0  134      853.0    890.0     205.0     525.0
             :
US           : 8,895.0  9,910.0  111    6,440.0  6,280.0   2,455.0   3,630.0
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1/  States included in regions as follows:  1 - AZ, CA, ID, NV, OR, &
    WA; 2 - NM & TX; 3 - CO, MT, SD, UT, & WY; 4 - IA, KS, MN, MO, NE,
    ND, & OK; 5 - all other States.



HDR2012000130070421951500Breeding Sheep and Lambs Inventory

                 Breeding Sheep and Lambs Inventory:  By Region
                        and United States, April 1, 1995
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            : Breeding Sheep-One Year Old & Older :             :Total Breeding
 Regions 1/ :-------------------------------------: Replacement :   Sheep and
            :      Ewes       :       Rams        :    Lambs    :     Lambs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :                               1,000 head
            :
Region 1    :       920.0              45.0            185.0         1,150.0
            :
Region 2    :     1,255.0              70.0            175.0         1,500.0
            :
Region 3    :     1,720.0              65.0            240.0         2,025.0
            :
Region 4    :       585.0              35.0             95.0           715.0
            :
Region 5    :       705.0              50.0            135.0           890.0
            :
US          :     5,185.0             265.0            830.0         6,280.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  States included in regions as follows:  1 - AZ, CA, ID, NV, OR, & WA; 2 -
    NM, & TX; 3 - CO, MT, SD, UT, & WY; 4 - IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, & OK; 5 -
    all other States.

                  Market Sheep and Lambs Inventory:  By Region
                        and United States, April 1, 1995
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :                 Market Lambs                 :        :
            :----------------------------------------------:        :  Market
  Region 1/ :  Under  :   65    :   85   :  Over  :        : Market : Sheep and
            :   65    :   to    :   to   :  105   : Total  : Sheep  :   Lambs
            : Pounds  : 84 lbs  :105 lbs : Pounds :        :        :
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :                            1,000 head
            :
Region 1    :   510.0    155.0    165.0     65.0     895.0    35.0       930.0
            :
Region 2    :   620.0     60.0     75.0     35.0     790.0    20.0       810.0
            :
Region 3    :   340.0     40.0     65.0    240.0     685.0    15.0       700.0
            :
Region 4    :   465.0     30.0     65.0     85.0     645.0    20.0       665.0
            :
Region 5    :   410.0     50.0     25.0     30.0     515.0    10.0       525.0
            :
US          : 2,345.0    335.0    395.0    455.0   3,530.0   100.0     3,630.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  States included in regions as follows:  1 - AZ, CA, ID, NV, OR, & WA; 2 - NM
    & TX; 3 - CO, MT, SD, UT, & WY; 4 - IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, & OK; 5 - all
    other States.



HDR2012000130070421951500Reliability

                     Reliability of April 1 Sheep Estimates

Survey Procedures:  A random sample of U. S. producers was surveyed to provide
                    data for these estimates.  Survey procedures ensured that
all sheep producers, regardless of size, had a chance to be included in the
survey.  Large producers were sampled more heavily than small operations.

About 4,500 operators were contacted during the first half of April by mail,
telephone, and face-to-face personal interviews.  Regardless of when operators
responded, they were asked to report inventories as of April 1.


Estimation Procedures:  These sheep estimates were prepared by the Agricultural
                        Statistics Board.


Revision Policy:  Revisions to previous estimates are made to improve the
                  current estimate.  Previous year estimates are subject to
revision when current estimates are made.  Estimates are reviewed after data
from the Department of Commerce's five-year Census of Agriculture is
available.  No revisions are made after that date.


The next "Sheep" report will be released at 3 p.m. ET on July 21, 1995.


The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age,
disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status.  Persons with
disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program
information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the
USDA Office of Communications at (202) 720-5881 (voice) or (202) 720-7808
(TDD).

To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA, Washington,
D.C., 20250, or call (202) 720-7327 (voice) or (202) 720-1127 (TDD).  USDA is
an equal employment opportunity employer.
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