Over the past two decades the U.S. sheep herd has been cut in half, and today the domestic U.S. herd is one tenth the size it was at its peak in the 1940’s. After World War II when soldiers returned from years of eating canned mutton, there was a widespread refusal to eat lamb, and the industry contraction began. In the 1960’s the average American ate 4.5 pounds of lamb per year – in 2011 this amount has dropped to less than one pound. As farms become larger and are not fenced-in, farmers are not running sheep on their harvested fields over the winter to be sold in spring. Even the popularity of wool in the U.S. is declining with the emergence of cheaper synthetic materials. Add to this, drought, high feed costs or scarce feed, harsh winters, significant price volatility, the lack of industry research funding, and the explosive efficiency in the poultry and beef industries, and it is not good news for the sheep and lamb sector. However, because sheep operations are generally small, the growing popularity of farmer’s markets and the local-food movement has benefited sheep operations. One third of all lamb sold in the U.S. is a direct sale from the producer to the consumer.
To receive relevant news stories with summaries provided by GAI Research & Insight, subscribe to Global AgDevelopments, our free bi-weekly enhanced eNews service