Sheep numbers continue to shrink in the United States, even though numbers are growing in some states, most notably Texas, where sheep are being grazed around solar farms, according to a Texas A&M University economist.
The number of ewes declined 1% to 2.85 million head in 2025. But the ewe flock grew 3.7%, or 15,000 head, in Texas, the largest producer with 420,000 ewes.
Seven other states showed some small expansion: Iowa, Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, Kansas, New York, and West Virginia, A&M’s David Anderson said in an analysis of USDA data posted on Southern Ag Today.
Despite the decline in the ewe flock, the number of market lambs was 1.2% higher in January than the year earlier, and lamb and yearling slaughter is 4.4% higher than a year ago.
Lamb prices are significantly higher this year as well. Prices for 60- to 90-pound wool slaughter lambs at San Angelo, Texas, are averaging $414 per hundredweight currently, up from about $311 a year ago.
