The number of sheep and lambs on Ohio farms on Jan. 1, totaled 128,000 head, down two percent from the 2009 estimate. Total breeding sheep inventory at 103,000 head, is up three percent from the previous year. Ewee one year old and older are estimated at 81,000 head, up 4,000 head from last year. Rams one year old and older are estimated at 6,000 head on Jan. 1, up 1,000 head from last year. Replacement lambs decreased 2,000 to 16,000 head on Jan. 1. The 2009 lamb crop is estimates at 105,000 head, up to three percent from the previous year. Total market sheep and lamb at 25,000 head are down 17 percent from one year ago.

All sheep and lamb inventory in the United States on Jan. 1, totaled 5.63 million head, down two percent from 2009. Breeding sheep inventory decreased to 4.19 million head on Jan. 1, down one percent from 4.25 million head on Jan. 1, 2009. Ewes one year old and older, at 3.34 million head, were two percent below last year.

Market sheep and lambs on Jan. 1, totaled 1.44 million head, down four percent from Jan. 1, 2009. Market lambs comprised 94 percent of the total marketings. Twenty-five percent were lambs under 65 pounds, 12 percent were 65-84 pounds, 19 percent were 85-105 pounds, and 38 percent were over 105 pounds. Market sheep comprised the remaining six percent of total marketings.

The 2009 lamb crop of 3.69 million head, was down one percent from 2008. The 2009 lambing rate was 108 lambs per 100 ewes one year old and older on Jan. 1, 2009, up three percent from 2008.

Shorn wool production in the United States during 2009 was 30.9 million pounds, down six percent from 2008. Sheep and lamb shorn totaled 4.20 million head, five percent from 2008. The average price paid for wool sold in 2009 was $0.79 per pound for a total value of 24.4 million dollars, down 25 percent from 32.5 million dollars in 2008.

All goat inventory in the United States on Jan. 1, totaled 3.04 million head, down one percent from 2009. Breeding goat inventory totaled 2.53 million head, down one percent from 2009. Does one year and older, at 1.87 million head, were one percent below last year's number. Market goats and kids totaled 518,000 head, down two percent from a year ago. Kid crop for 2009 total 1.94 million head for all goats, down slightly from 2009. Milk goat inventory increased to 355,000 head, six percent above Jan. 1, 2009, while Angora goats were down 19 percent, totaling 150,000 heads.

Mohair production in the United States during 2009 was 1.01 million pounds. Goats and kids clipped totaled 160,500 head. Average weight per clip was 6.3 pounds. Mohair price was $2.66 per pound with a value of 2.69 million dollars.