All sheep and lambs inventory in Minnesota as of January 1, 2021, totaled 113,000 head, down 2% from 2020, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Sheep and Goats report. 

Total breeding stock, at 80,000 head, decreased 1% from a year ago. 

Compared with last year, market sheep and lambs decreased 3% to 33,000 head. 

The lamb crop for 2020 totaled 90,000 head. 

Wool production for the State was 600,000 pounds, down 3% from last year. 

All sheep and lambs inventory in the United States on January 1, 2021, totaled 5.17 million head, down 1% from 2020. 

Breeding sheep inventory at 3.78 million head on January 1, 2021, decreased 1% from 3.81 million head on January 1, 2020. 

Ewes one year old and older, at 2.96 million head, were 1% below last year. 

Market sheep and lambs on January 1, 2021, totaled 1.39 million head, unchanged from January 1, 2020. Market lambs comprised 94% of the total market inventory. 

Market sheep comprised the remaining 6% of total market inventory. 

The 2020 lamb crop of 3.21 million head was down 1% from 2019. 

The 2020 lambing rate was 108 lambs per 100 ewes one year old and older on January 1, 2020, unchanged from 2019. 

Shorn wool production in the United States during 2020 was 23.1 million pounds, down 4% from 2019. 

Sheep and lambs shorn totaled 3.28 million head, down 1% from 2019. 

The average price paid for wool sold in 2020 was $1.66 per pound for a total value of 38.4 million dollars, down 15% from 45.4 million dollars in 2019. 

Sheep death loss during 2020 totaled 210 thousand head, down 4% from 2019. 

Lamb death loss was down 5% from 388 thousand head to 370 thousand head in 2020.