By Andi Anderson
The sheep and goat inventory in Indiana and across the United States showed notable changes in 2025. Indiana’s total sheep and lamb count stood at 74,000 on January 1, 2025, marking a decline of 6,000 from the previous year.
The breeding sheep inventory dropped to 65,000, while market sheep and lambs fell to 9,000. Indiana’s 2024 lamb crop was also lower, totaling 56,000, down by 3,000.
Wool production in Indiana declined slightly, with 42,000 sheep shorn in 2024, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous year. However, total wool output remained at 250,000 pounds. Wool prices dropped to $0.50 per pound, leading to a total wool value of $125,000, down $50,000 from 2023.
Goat inventory in Indiana showed mixed trends. The number of milk goats increased by 500, reaching 14,000. However, the meat and other goat population decreased by 4,000, bringing the total to 33,000.
On a national scale, the U.S. sheep inventory stood at 5.05 million head on January 1, 2025, showing a slight increase from 2024. The breeding sheep population was 3.68 million, with ewes one year and older slightly increasing to 2.88 million. Market sheep and lambs totaled 1.37 million, reflecting a 1% rise.
U.S. wool production dropped by 1% in 2024, with 3.17 million sheep shorn, producing 22.5 million pounds of wool. The average wool price was $1.43 per pound, bringing the total value to $32.1 million, down 9% from the previous year.
Goat numbers in the U.S. also saw slight growth. The total inventory reached 2.51 million, marking a 1% increase. Breeding goats accounted for 2.07 million, while market goats and kids totaled 442,000, reflecting a 2% rise.
These changes highlight shifting livestock trends, impacting farmers, wool producers, and the agricultural industry.
Photo Credit: pexels-pavel-bondarenko
Categories: Indiana, Livestock, Goats & Sheep, Rural Lifestyle