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U.S. sheep, lamb numbers down three percent

LMA

The U.S. sheep and lamb numbers on July 1 totaled 7.05 million head, down three percent from July 1, 2008, USDA said. Market sheep and lambs, including newborn lambs, at 2.77 million head, were also down three percent from last July. That was comprised of 2.69 million head of market lambs, in a weight range of 65 to over 105 pounds. The market sheep inventory was 80,000 head.

USDA said the 2009 lamb crop in the U.S. is expected to total 3.70 million head, compared to 3.71 million head during 2008. Lambs born January-June totaled 3.25 million head, or 88 percent of the yearly anticipated total.