Sheep industry adds more than $7 million to Kentucky revenue
Frankfort (Feb. 3, 2025)
Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell celebrated Kentucky’s sheep and lamb producers today when he signed a proclamation commemorating February as Lamb Month in Kentucky.
“The last several years many Kentucky farmers have chosen to add sheep to diversify their livestock options,” Commissioner Shell said. “Packed with protein, lamb is the perfect lean meat for the dinner table. But it provides more than meat, sheep are an excellent source of milk and fiber as well. Every day, but this month in particular, we salute the value sheep and lamb add to our farms.”
About 5 million sheep are raised by roughly 80,000 farmers and ranchers across the United States. With more than 12 million acres of agriculture land in Kentucky, the Commonwealth is home to 75,000 head of sheep and lamb, a 7.1 percent increase in just one year. Those 75,000 are spread over more than 2,774 sheep producers who are dedicated to producing high quality products for consumers.
“Kentucky's sheep numbers continue to grow each year because more consumers are trying something different with lamb on their plates,” said Harry Frederick, a sheep producer out of Tompkinsville and president of the Kentucky Sheep and Wool Producers Association. “We have sheep producers working hard to provide delicious, safe lamb to customers from Pikeville to Owensboro. Our abundant grass and steady markets have allowed producers to expand their operations and provide more lamb. We encourage families to make lamb a regular part of their lives.”
Kentucky has a strong tradition of sheep production in the U.S. with the number of head reaching as high as over a million in the mid to late 1940s. The number of Kentucky’s sheep industry declined in the last 40 years, but with the help of the Kentucky Sheep and Wool Producers Association and the American Sheep Industry Association, those numbers are on the rebound as producers are retaining stock to grow their operations.
The Kentucky sheep industry adds more than $7 million in revenue to Kentucky’s agriculture receipts. For 2024, market lambs and sheep increased by more than 7 percent, with higher numbers of breeding stock in inventory. The market lamb inventory was the highest level on record for Kentucky. With solid markets, an increase in retail demand, growing grazing opportunities in the state, and increased value added opportunities for wool, this industry is expected to keep growing into the future.
February serves as a reminder of the great versatility and value of sheep and lamb. In addition to lamb being a source of protein, zinc, selenium and B vitamin, it’s also a good source of iron and riboflavin. Numerous products and byproducts also come from sheep, including milk, fiber for wool, and lanolin, a natural moisturizer. Across the world, farmers also use sheep to combat noxious weeds on their property, promote healthy forests, and prevent wildfires.
To celebrate Lamb Month, purchase lamb from your local grocery store, specialty shop, farmers' market, or butcher shop. The Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office offers information on its website with tips cooking the lean meat. The website also offers a buyer's guide for lamb at: https://www.kysheepandgoat.org/on-your-plate.
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