SBEEP NUMBERS LOWEST IN SEVENTEEN. YEAES 

 By L, F, Stlce, Extension Marketing Specialist 



The number of stock sheep and lambs (excluding sheep and lamhe on feed for mar- 

 ket) in the United States -on January 1, 19^5, was the smallest since 1928 (see chart). 

 Numbers of stock sheep euid lambs have been declining each year since 19^2, but the 9 per- 

 cent reduction in 19^^ was the largest decrease in any year since I869. Shortage of 

 farm labor has been a major cause of the decline in sheep numbers. The number of lambs 

 raised for each 100 head of ewes on faarms was smaller during the past two years them dur- 

 ing the preceding five years, largely because of an inadequate supply of trained labor 

 at lambing time. 



Reductions in numbers of stock sheep during 19^^ were heavy in several of the 

 western states. They are ciirrently estimated by the U.S.D.A. Crop Reporting Service to 

 be as follows: California, Colorado, and New Mexico, 8 percent; Wyoming, 11 percent; 

 and Montana, 15 percent. Texas, the largest sheep-producing state of the nation, h«ui 

 only a 3 percent reduction. 



Although the slaughter of ewes in the United States during 19^^ was relatively 

 large, the greatest reduction was in Icunb numbers. Compared with January 1, 19^^, the 

 number of ewes on Jajiuary 1, 19^5 > was down 6 percent, while the number of lambs was 

 down 20 percent. 



Sheep numbers are reaching a point where they should become stabilized. Returns 

 to sheep growers have not been unfavorable, but the large storage stocks of wool held by 

 the government have not been encouraging for the postwar outlook. 



# 



Millions^ 

 50 



50 

 20 



10 







STOCK SHEEP AND LAMBS ON FARMS, JAN. 1, U.S., 1900-19^+5* 



United States — ^ 



VTesteni sheep \ 

 state s_ . 



/Native sheep states 



—Millions 



50 



ko 



50 

 20 



I I 1 1 I 



I I I I ' I 1 ' I I i ' ' > ' ' t t 



1900 1910 1920 

 ^Excludes sheep and lambs on feed for market. 



» i i I I I ' .1 I I t I I ,! M I I I I L-l 



1950 19^0 1950 



10 







