Sheep                                                                           
                                                                                
     National                                                                   
     Agricultural                                                               
     Statistics                                                                 
     Service                                                                    
                                                                                
USDA                                                                            
Washington, D.C.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Released November 14, 1997, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service     
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.  For     
information on "Sheep" call James Hand at 202-690-3236, office hours 7:00 a.m.  
to 4:30 p.m. ET.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
   November 1, 1997, Sheep and Lambs Totals 7.86 Million Head                   
                                                                                
All sheep and lambs in the United States on November 1, 1997 totaled 7.86       
million head, 7 percent below November 1, 1996.  The number of breeding sheep   
and lambs on hand November 1, 1997 reached 5.42 million head, 8 percent below   
November 1, 1996.  Market sheep and lambs (including newborns) at 2.45 million  
head were 4 percent below November 1, 1996.                                     
                                                                                
                                                                                
Of the November 1 breeding herd 4.47 million head were ewes one year old and    
older, 195,000 head were rams one year old and older, and 750,000 head were     
replacement lambs ( including newborn lambs).                                   
                                                                                
                                                                                
Of the total market lambs (including newborn lambs), 16.9 percent were under    
65 pounds, 28.7 percent were 65 to 84 pounds, 31.4 percent were 85 to 105       
pounds and 23.0 percent were over 105 pounds on November 1.                     
                                                                                
                                                                                
Region 3 (CO, MT, SD, UT, & WY) accounted for 31.6 percent of the total sheep   
and lambs.   Region 1 (AZ, CA, ID, NV, OR, & WA) accounted for 21.5 percent     
followed closely by Region 2 (NM &TX) with 21.2 percent.  Region 4 (IA, KS,     
MN, MO, NE, ND, & OK) had 12.7 percent and the remainder was in Region 5 (all   
other States)                                                                   
                                                                                
                                                                                
                    All Sheep and Lambs Inventory:  By Region                   
                     and United States, November 1, 1996-97                     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             :    All Sheep     :  97  :  Breeding Sheep  :    Market Sheep     
             :    and Lambs     : as % :    and Lambs     :      and Lambs      
  Regions 1/ :------------------:  of  :----------------------------------------
             :  1996   :  1997  :  96  :  1996  :  1997   :   1996   :   1997   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             :    1,000 Head      Pct    ------------ 1,000 Head ------------   
             :                                                                  
Region 1     :  1,805    1,690     94    1,130     1,060       675        630   
             :                                                                  
Region 2     :  1,745    1,670     96    1,440     1,280       305        390   
             :                                                                  
Region 3     :  2,760    2,485     90    1,860     1,685       900        800   
             :                                                                  
Region 4     :  1,130      995     88      705       635       425        360   
             :                                                                  
Region 5     :  1,010    1,020    101      755       755       255        265   
             :                                                                  
US           :  8,450    7,860     93    5,890     5,415     2,560      2,445   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.                                                               
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                 Breeding Sheep and Lambs Inventory:  By Region                 
                     and United States, November 1, 1996-97                     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            : Breeding Sheep-One Year Old & Older :             :Total Breeding 
            :-------------------------------------: Replacement :   Sheep and   
 Regions 1/ :      Ewes       :       Rams        :    Lambs    :     Lambs     
            :-------------------------------------------------------------------
            :  1996  :  1997  :  1996   :  1997   : 1996 : 1997 : 1996  : 1997  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :                            1,000 Head                             
            :                                                                   
Region 1    :   915      860       40        40     175    160    1,130   1,060 
            :                                                                   
Region 2    : 1,170    1,060       55        50     215    170    1,440   1,280 
            :                                                                   
Region 3    : 1,535    1,425       50        45     275    215    1,860   1,685 
            :                                                                   
Region 4    :   580      540       30        20      95     75      705     635 
            :                                                                   
Region 5    :   585      585       45        40     125    130      755     755 
            :                                                                   
US          : 4,785    4,470      220       195     885    750    5,890   5,415 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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, November 1, 1997                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :                 Market Lambs                 :        :           
            :----------------------------------------------:        :  Market   
 Regions 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    :   125       130      185      165       605      25         630   
            :                                                                   
Region 2    :    85       145      110       45       385       5         390   
            :                                                                   
Region 3    :    45       230      275      230       780      20         800   
            :                                                                   
Region 4    :    80       110       85       75       350      10         360   
            :                                                                   
Region 5    :    65        65       90       30       250      15         265   
            :                                                                   
US          :   400       680      745      545     2,370      75       2,445   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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, November 1, 1996                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :                 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    :   140       195      250       60       645      30         675   
            :                                                                   
Region 2    :    50       160       60       30       300       5         305   
            :                                                                   
Region 3    :    40       245      380      220       885      15         900   
            :                                                                   
Region 4    :    95       135      100       90       420       5         425   
            :                                                                   
Region 5    :    55        85       70       20       230      25         255   
            :                                                                   
US          :   380       820      860      420     2,480      80       2,560   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.                                                               
                                                                                
                                                                                
             Reliability of November 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 2,800         
operators were contacted during the first half of November by mail, telephone   
and face-to-face personal interview.  Regardless of when operators responded,   
they were asked to report inventories as of November 1.                         
                                                                                
                                                                                
Estimation Procedures: These sheep estimates were prepared by the Agricultural  
Statistics Board.  National and State survey data were reviewed for             
reasonableness and with estimates from past years.  A projected balance sheet   
for calendar year 1997 was also used.  The balance sheet begins with the        
previous inventory estimate, adds estimates of births and imports, and          
subtracts estimates of slaughter, exports and deaths.  This indicated ending    
inventory level is compared with the Agricultural Statistics Board estimate     
for reasonableness.                                                             
                                                                                
                                                                                
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 will also be reviewed after data from    
the Department of Commerce's five-year census of Agriculture are available.     
No revisions will be made after that date.                                      
                                                                                
The next "Sheep" report will be released at 3 p.m. ET on January 30, 1998.      
                                                                                
                                                                                
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's   
TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).                                  
                                                                                
To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA, Washington,      
D.C., 20250, or call 1-800-245-6340 (voice) or 202-720-1127 (TDD).  USDA is an  
equal employment opportunity employer.                                          
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                        ACCESS TO REPORTS!!                                     
                                                                                
                                                                                
For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data       
products, and services:                                                         
                                                                                
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Reports by Calendar or Publications and then Search, by Title or Subject.       
                                                                                
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e-mail address.  Send an e-mail message to:                                     
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word:  list.                                                                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
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                           ASSISTANCE                                           
                                                                                
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Hotline at 800-727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail:                  
nass@nass.usda.gov.                                                             
                                                                                
          USDA Announces Agricultural Outlook Forum  98                         
                    February 23 and 24, 1998                                    
                        Washington, D.C.                                        
         Presented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture                        
                                                                                
Survey the New Frontiers.                                                       
Survey the frontiers of agriculture at USDA's seventy-fourth                    
outlook forum.  Catch the latest commodity prospects for 1998                   
and beyond and receive new long-term projections to the year                    
2007.  Hear noted experts and farm leaders tackle front line                    
issues: managing risk, selling bio-engineered products,                         
ensuring food safety, marketing organic foods, honing export                    
strategies, and more.                                                           
                                                                                
Act Now To Attend. For program and registration details check the Forum home    
page, call (202) 720-3050, or dial (202) 694-5700 from your fax machine handset 
and retrieve document 66666.  Call (202) 401-9421 to register.                  
                                                                                
  Ag Forum home page:  http://www.usda.gov/oce/waob/agforum.htm                 
                  e-mail: agforum@oce.usda.gov                                  
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                          Agricultural                                          
                             Outlook                                            
                            Forum  98