Changes in the Sheep Industry in the United States: Making the Transition from Tradition

Since the 1940s, sheep and lamb production has been on the decline in the U.S. No single factor is responsible for the decline; it stems from several forces, such as globalization and growing competition from other meat and fiber industries in the U.S. The sheep industry has adjusted, investing in new technologies and improving efficiency. Signs of change include the introduction of hair sheep, the growth in direct marketing, and the emergence of the dairy sheep industry.