As of January 1, 2008, U.S. farms had 6.06 million sheep and lambs, down 2 percent from 2007. The U.S. sheep inventory peaked in 1942 with 56 million head. About 80 percent of the sheep produced in the United States are geared toward lamb production. The top five sheep and lamb producing states are Texas, California, Wyoming, Colorado and South Dakota.
China is the world’s largest producer of sheep followed by Australia.
Sheep producers in Australia and New Zealand have a competitive edge over other producers. According to USDA, the comparative advantage these two countries have is due to the cost of production, trade, exchange rate, consumer preference and advertising. March 2008 . . . International Lamb
- Alberta Lamb Overview - The Alberta Sheep & Wool Commission launched the brand name “Alberta Lamb” to make Alberta lamb a regular weekly meal in province households.
- American Sheep Industry Association
- Canadian Sheep Federation
- Economic Research Service, Briefing Room - Sheep.
- European Commission - Agriculture
- International Meat Manual, U.S. Meat Export Federation - This manual, available in English, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish, features commonly exported lamb cuts and variety meats.
- Lamb (Domestic Production and International Trade Information), FASonline, USDA.
- Meat and Livestock Australia
- Meat, Livestock, Poultry and Eggs Analysis, Foreign Ag Service, USDA.
- National Sheep Association - Represents the interests of United Kingdom sheep farmers.
- New Zealand Sheepmeat Industry, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, New Zealand.
- New Zealand Lamb
- U.S. Red Meat Exports Continue to Increase in 2006, U.S. Meat Export Federation.
- U.S. Meat Export Federation
Links checked February 2008.