Sheep Industry News October 2025

SheepIndustry Volume 29, Issue 10 October 2025

News

Photo Issue Annual

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President’s Notes Market Report

ASI Member Listing Breeders' Directory Industry Calendar

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ON THE COVER: Sheep in Fall Brianna Matchett, MI

Three Weeks Down Under with the Sheep and Wool Industry

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As one of the largest sheep and wool producers in the world, a lot can be learned from taking a trip down under.

FOLLOW US

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23 Introducing the New Sustainability Hub on AmericanWool.org The American Wool Council has launched a brand new addition to the American Wool website: the Sustainability Hub.

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Photo Contest Winners The winners of the

From Cattle to Sheep: The Sperry-Deal Family’s Journey Ranching in “The Muddy” The Sperry family has been livestock ranching on “the Muddy,” above Somerset, Colo.

ASI Photo Contest have been selected. Check out the winning photos in each of the five categories.

2 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org

Sheep Industry News Pauses Publication for 2025, Resuming in 2026

As the American Sheep Industry Association continues its mission to serve and support the U.S. sheep industry, we are taking a brief pause in the publication of Sheep Industry News (SIN) to reflect on how we can best communicate with and serve our members in today’s fast-moving world. The October issue will be the final Sheep Industry News published in 2025, as SIN pauses for the remainder of the year and plans to resume in early 2026. During this hiatus, we’ll be evaluating how we share information, exploring new tools and formats, and gathering feedback to ensure our communications are timely, relevant, and impactful for producers, partners, and the broader industry. If you’d like to share your thoughts on the publication (what’s working, what could be improved, or ideas for future content) we’d love to hear from you at info@sheepusa.org. We look forward to returning in 2026 with renewed energy and a stronger platform to share the stories, news, and insights that matter most to you.

Thank you for your continued support.

— The ASI Team

President’s Notes BEN LEHFELDT ASI PRESIDENT

Family

A s we enter fall it is a great time to give thanks for what we have and, like all farmers and ranchers, be hopeful for what is to come. One of the most important things to me, and the reason I choose to come back to the ranch, is to be close to family. Many sheep operations are the same. The fact that we have the opportunity to work with our family and help develop bonds is what a family is all about. It is one thing to be proud of your family’s lineage and try to continue to carry on the tradition, but it is quite another to just sit back and really look at what this way of life affords us. My wife and two kids are more important to me than ever, especially given the fact that both boys are approaching junior high and still have a long way to “grow up”. My wife puts up with a lot, and I probably don’t convey my appre ciation for that enough. My father and mother have been very encouraging and are still willing to “hold down the fort” as I attempt to lend a hand to the organization, even though they both have put a significant amount of years into the ranch. We all often underappreciate the benefits that ranch life gives back to the younger generation. Although all young people seem to be obsessed with screen time, it is great they learn the importance of hard work and responsibility on a sheep ranch. Family doesn’t stop at our immediate family members. The sheep industry has given a lot to our family, and I feel a responsibility to give back. Montana Woolgrowers and ASI producers have been like a family over the years, and it is hard to watch as sheep numbers have dipped. It was encouraging to see an uptick in the NASS sheep inventory number earlier this year, but it has been increasingly hard to make a profit in the western U.S. It is exciting to see growth in the east and Midwest, often following the demand of non-traditional lamb consumers and the specialized grazing opportunities. This does require ASI to look at ways to help promote/support these new endeavors. The challenges that exist with our industry are important to understand and work together to fix, as a family. Currently the ASI has taken up the task of assessing our communication methods. In June, long time editor Kyle Partain moved on to another opportunity and we felt like it was the right time to do a deeper dive. ASI has engaged a professional communications firm to lead a comprehensive evaluation and develop a communications strategy for the organization. Kyle did a great job over the years providing informa tion to our producers. Currently Parand is helping out putting the magazine together and also delivering the weekly ASI updates via email. Thank you very much to Parand Malekani for stepping up and taking on the extra workload. We look forward to the subsequent com munications assessment and will use that to help structure the department efficiently and effectively. Personally, I think this may be an opportunity to partner more closely with ALB to more effectively meet the communication needs of our existing producers, while also using a promotional approach to help increase membership. We must look for new ways to support and recruit new sheep producers in the U.S. Additionally, this fall we are busy continuing to build support for a better H2A working visa for sheepherders. Our revamped H2A work ing group has met diligently over the past six months to chart the path forward and look for opportunities to improve the visa requirements, costs, and process. We think there may be a window of opportunity with this administration in the near future, and our goal is to be ready with the sheep producers’ needs. We are also focusing on the skinny Farm Bill piece that is left for discussion in DC. Our staff and law firm are focused on making sure sheep priorities are included. Specifically, we understand the importance of including language in the bill to require RMA to produce a sheep risk tool our industry can use. It has been too long that our sheep growers have lacked the same risk protection or futures markets available to them. It is very frustrating that other large commodities have access to these tools, and we have nothing to protect our business. We are also continuing our pressure on bringing some relief from imports. We know that the 15% from New Zealand and the 10% from Australia are not enough to make a difference. We are continuing our push on the 201 case, while also arming our Trade Representatives with data from our processing facilities that clearly shows injury. All of this can only be done with all of your volunteer help. We are moving forward, trying to secure our U.S. sheep family businesses. Make sure to show appropriate appreciation to all of those “family” that are so important to each of you and to your sheep operation.

4 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org

SheepIndustry NEWS October 2025: Volume 29, Issue 10

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October 2025 • Sheep Industry News • 5

Market Report

Charles Martinez, Ph.D. University of Tennessee

Higher Prices Throughout the Supply Chain

A s the calendar year turns to the last quarter of the year, sheep and lamb prices across the supply chain are higher in compar ison to last year, which is refreshing to write about compared to months past. Retail Enough time has passed since USDA-AMS altered their lamb retail reporting such that yearly comparisons can occur again. Retail outlets are finding value in featuring lamb products in the meat case and nudging consumers to lamb this year. In the first week of September, the feature rate was 21.2%, 11.1% higher than the previous week, and 6% higher than last year. The fea ture rate is the amount of sampled stores advertising any reported item during a current week, expressed as a “percentage” of the total stores (24,824) sampled. Additionally, the activity rate in the first week of Sep tember was 5,460, an increase from 5,431 in the previous week, and up from 3,930 last year for the same week. The activity rate is a measure of the absolute frequency of feature activity equal to the total number of stores for each advertised item (i.e., a retailer with 200 outlets featuring 3 items has an activity index of 600). The latest average feature retail price (August) was $11.20 per pound, 21% higher than 2024 ($9.30 per pound) and 29% higher than the prior five-year average ($8.68 per pound). The retail reports and prices are positive and signs that retail demand is remaining strong, if not increasing. Wholesale Wholesale lamb cutout values have steadily increased since July, hitting a yearly high of $491.40 per cwt in late August and gaining 6%

between the first week in January ($460 per cwt), and early Septem ber ($488.01 per cwt). Compared to last year, the cutout value was $14.41 per cwt (3%) higher and $29.91 per cwt (6.5%) higher than the previous five-year average in early September. A driver of the recent increase was boxed lamb shoulder prices, increasing from $399.33 per cwt in late June to $454.48 per cwt in early September (a 14% increase). From a historical price perspective, the cutout value usually stabilizes or trends downward in the last half of the year, but this year, it is rising and given the retail activity, prices might have some more upward movement, or stability, which is a positive sign for the supply chain. Slaughter Through the first week of September, weekly lamb and yearling slaughter is averaging 37,250 head per week, with total lamb and yearling slaughter approximately 1.3 million head or 2.4% higher than in 2024. Dressed weights have averaged 62.8 pounds so far this year, 0.6 pounds heavier than last year but 3 pounds lighter compared to the previous five-year average. Total lamb production year-to-date is 4% larger compared to last year but 1.3% lower than the previous five-year average. Tighter total supplies are likely supporting the higher cutout value. Weekly slaughter numbers are expected to seasonally increase for the rest of 2025. The question will become if there will be increased total production such that it pulls down wholesale prices. Prices Feeder lamb prices (60- to 90-pound) in the 3-market average (CO, TX, SD) mimicked last year’s price trends, with prices surging in the first quarter of the year, decreasing during the summer period and then increasing going into September. Prices started 2025 at $255.92 per cwt, peaked at $345 per cwt in February, and then fell to a yearly low of $197.78 per cwt in August. In early September, prices were at $241.40 per cwt, 7% lower than 2024, but 26% higher than the previous five year average. For 60- to 90-pound slaughter lambs, the 3-market (CO, TX, SD) prices have had some positivity. After peaking at $294.10 per cwt in May, prices declined and were at $222.97 per cwt in the first week of September, 20% higher than last year and 22% higher than the previous five-year average. The decrease in September was expected as prices tend to bottom out at yearly lows in the summer and then increase throughout the rest of the year. September prices might end up being the floor for the year, and fundamentally with increased retail demand, prices could finish the year at levels the not seen in a while.

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Negotiated slaughter lamb prices have trended the same as the cutout value. Prices began to increase in June, reaching $210.81 per cwt in early September, 13% higher than last year, and 19% higher than the previous five-year average. Stronger demand at the retail and wholesale levels is supporting slaughter lamb prices. Given the recent surge in retail demand, I expect prices to hold steady and possibly increase in October. Trade In the latest trade data, U.S. imports of lamb and mutton for July, totaled 30.2 million pounds, down 4% from last year. Lamb imports at 27.5 million pounds were 7% lower than in 2024 but 16% higher than in June. The increase in lamb imports from June to July was driven by a 25% increase in Australian import volume. Mutton imports, in July were 5.37 million pounds higher than June and about 1.1 million pounds (3.5%) lower than July 2024 import volume. U.S. lamb and mutton exports totaled 0.582 million pounds, with Canada and Mexico accounting for 25% and 28%, respectively. Wool As I write this in the first week of September, the wool market has seen prices increase to levels not seen in quite some time. The Aus tralian Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) was at 1291 AUcents per kg (US$3.82 per pound clean basis), which is up from an annual low of 1199 AUcents per kg in June. Prices in early September were 1310 AUcents per kg (US$3.72 per pound clean basis), the highest since May

2023. This is the strongest run-in weekly prices since 2019. Prices across all grades have increased. Prices for fine wool (micron 16.5-22) saw incremental increases, with 17-micron starting Septem ber at US$5.40 per pound (highest since March 2024), 18-micron at US$5.19 (highest since January 2024) per pound, 19-micron being US$4.80 per pound (highest since May 2022), 20-micron (US$4.63 per pound), 21-micron (US$4.57 per pound), and 22-micron (US$4.54 per pound). In coarser wools (micron 25-32), prices have also increased tremendously, with 25-micron starting September at US$2.71 per pound, the highest since July 2022. The price rises seen this last month are encouraging. While demand is showing some signs of improvement, the primary driver behind ris ing prices is supply. Drought conditions and changes in the Australian flock away from wool numbers are impacting the available supply of wool on the market. Some reports suggest there might not be enough supply if mills want to run near their optimum capacity. In the U.S., tariffs continue to create challenges. Outlook As we head down the home stretch of the year, prices are higher in all markets, which is likely the first time that one could write that in quite some time. As mentioned, each segment of the supply chain has some positivity from a producer’s standpoint. It’s quite refreshing to write those last few sentences, given the last few years have been tough. The combination of expected lower feed costs and strong retail demand should lead to at least stable possibly higher prices for producers.

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October 2025 • Sheep Industry News • 7

From Cattle to Sheep: The Sperry-Deal Family’s Journey Parand Malekani Graphic Designer

R anching in “The Muddy” The Sperry family has been livestock ranching on “the Muddy,” above Somerset, Colo., since 1928. Renee Deal’s great-grandfather and grandfather started out running cattle, but by the mid-1970s her grandfather and father made the switch to sheep. At the time, the Muddy country was big sheep country, with families of Scottish, Italian and Greek roots making their living with flocks. “One of the neighboring producers told my grandfather, ‘I run sheep and I don’t give a damn what you cattlemen think; I’m laughing all the way to the bank,’” Renee said. Lonnie, Renee’s husband, grew up with cattle and was skeptical of sheep for a while. After the couple married, they moved to Den ver to pursue education and other careers. “If you told me when I was 18 that I would be back on the ranch, I would’ve called you a liar!” Renee said. “I couldn’t get away from the ranch fast enough. But after we had kids, our perspective changed. When my grand father was diagnosed with cancer, we moved back to help my dad and to get back to a lifestyle that we wanted for our kids. We came into a business that was fully established but have added our own mark.” They formed Sperry Livestock Corporation, a partnership between the Deals and Renee’s father, Joe and brother, Vaughn.

Polypays can breed and lamb three times over two years, and some of their seedstock customers follow that model. But because the Deals run their flock on range, they don’t. Even so, their genet ics have traveled across the country. “We’ve sold some of our ewe lambs as seed stock all over the country with customers from Vermont, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Ne braska, Wisconsin, Texas and here in Colorado,” Renee said. “We sell the rest of our lambs for meat. We don’t get much for our wool — most years we’re just hoping to cover the cost to shear.” Innovation on the Range The Deals haven’t been afraid to try new practices. This fall, they will begin solar grazing at Garnet Mesa Solar Farm in Delta. This facility will be the largest irrigated solar farm in the US. “We have partnered with the solar company to design a utility scale agrivoltaics facility that is not just sheep friendly but provides high quality feed and efficient paddock designs for optimal rota tional grazing and management,” Renee explained. “We’re excited to see how this partnership evolves our business model.” Technology has also found its way into their operation. Three years ago, the Deals began using EID tags and the AnimalTrakker® data system, developed locally by Paonia producers Kenyon and Eugenie McGuire. “This data program has enabled us to track birthing records, health and vet records, movements and individual sheep informa tion,” Renee said. “It has already helped us improve our lambing rates. It has also been very helpful tracking the breeding effective ness of our rams and tracking our animal care protocols.” More information on the free software can be found at animal trakker.com Challenges in the High Country For all the innovation and tradition, the realities of ranching in western Colorado bring constant challenges. “The biggest challenges in recent years for us have been around labor, drought and ever-increasing pressure on our ability to do business,” Renee said. “The elephant in the room is the wolf reintroduction in Colorado, but it is really just a symbol of how dif ficult it is to continue to run a range sheep operation.” Predators are an overwhelming concern. “Where we run has been called the best black bear habitat in the state by CPW (Colorado Parks & Wildlife),” Renee said. “We also have a healthy mountain lion population and, of course, coyotes. But here in Colorado, we also face the challenges of voter ballot initiatives that have severely hindered our ability to control these predators.

Renee and Lonnie Deal

Building Their Flock Today, the family runs roughly 1,700 commercial range ewes. In the past, the flock numbered more than 3,000, but they have gradually reduced herd size for a variety of reasons. “Our sheep are purebred Polypays, but we don’t register the ewes,” Renee explained. “We breed all of our stock with NSIP regis tered rams from Uncompahgre Polypays and Klaseen Polypays out of Delta County, CO and have focused on high quality genetics for the last 15 to 20 years. Our ewes have superior mothering abilities and are good producers. Polypays are known for their productivity — we easily lamb out over 200 percent on a good year.”

8 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org

ASI Member Listing WWW.SHEEPUSA.ORG l INFO@SHEEPUSA.ORG

Alabama Meat Goat & Sheep Producers 205-315-6811 • cprevatt@alfafarmers.org ASI Women 509-760-9496 • lovetaboyce@gmail.com Arizona Wool Producers Association 520-560-4202 • caauza@peoplepc.com Arkansas State Sheep Council 870-853-7404 • wjcalloway@gmail.com California Wool Growers Association 916-444-8122 • susan@woolgrowers.org Colorado Wool Growers Association 303-638-0596 • cwgawool@aol.com Connecticut Sheep Breeders Association 860-933-0212 • gschultz@baypath.edu Meat Sheep Alliance of Florida 352-502-2564 • ruthtaber@embarqmail.com Georgia Sheep & Wool Growers Association 706-614-2417 • joannemaki22@gmail.com Hawaii Sheep and Goat Association 808-775-8075 • alohadjam@yahoo.com Idaho Wool Growers Association 208-344-2271 • director@idahowoolgrowers.org Illinois Lamb & Wool Producers Inc. 618-367-2364 • fulton9504@gmail.com Indiana Sheep Association 317-607-5664 • executive@indianasheep.com Iowa Sheep Industry Association 641-780-2795 • info@iowasheep.com Kansas Sheep Association 620-393-5204 • kssheep@ruraltel.net Kentucky Sheep & Wool Producers Association 502-682-7780 • kyates@kysheepandgoat.org Maine Sheep Breeders Association 240-357-1437 • donna.flint@maine.gov Maryland Sheep Breeders Association 240-357-1437 • patriciasanville@gmail.com Massachusetts Federation of Sheep Associations 508-829-4556 • brmacphee@aol.com Michigan Sheep Producers Association 616-610-5628 • elainem.bristol@gmail.com Minnesota Lamb & Wool Producers Association 320-760-5727 • kinneylamb@gmail.com Missouri Sheep Producers Inc. 573-578-0497 • mosheepproducers@gmail.com

National Lamb Feeders Association 970-629-5067 • lambfeeders1@outlook.com Nebraska Sheep & Goat Producers Association 308-386-8378 • Ne.sheep.goat@gmail.com Nevada Wool Growers Association 775-744-4388 • pr_paris@yahoo.com New Hampshire Sheep & Wool Growers 603-502-0800 • rickatcoveland@aol.com Garden State Sheep Breeders Inc. (N.J.) 609-947-2260 • kmelvinnjsheep@gmail.com New Mexico Wool Growers Inc. 505-247-0584 • nmwgi@nmagriculture.org Empire Sheep Producers Cooperative (N.Y.) 585-367-2775 • sheepkath@aol.com North Carolina Sheep Producers Assoc. Inc. 919-808-5285 • bphillips@carolinasolar.services North Dakota Lamb & Wool Producers Assoc. Oregon Sheep Growers Association 503-364-5462 • info@sheeporegon.com Pennsylvania Sheep & Wool Growers Association 717-512-8127 • danlturner44@gmail.com South Carolina Sheep Industries Association 864-360-3222 • dairysheepdeb@gmail.com South Dakota Sheep Growers Association 406-581-7772 • lisa@sdsheepgrowers.org Tennessee Sheep Producers Association 931-698-8293 • twolters@bellsouth.net Texas Sheep & Goat Raisers’ Association 325-655-7388 • office@tsgra.com Utah Wool Growers Association 435-915-6116 • sierra@utahwoolgrowers.com Vermont Sheep & Goat Association 802-899-2104 • settlementfarm@comcast.net Virginia Sheep Producers Association 540-231-9159 • sgreiner@vt.edu Washington State Sheep Producers 360-999-8118 • washingtonsheep@gmail.com Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Cooperative 608-743-9080 • wisconsinsheepbreeders@gmail.com 701-207-0010 • rick.schmidt@ndsu.edu Ohio Sheep Improvement Association 614-499-2931 • rhigh@ofbf.org

Ben Lehfeldt Montana President

Joe Pozzi California Vice President

Tammy Fisher Texas

Secretary/ Treasurer

Peter Orwick Colorado Executive Director

Wyoming Wool Growers Association 307-265-5250 • alison@wyowool.com

Montana Wool Growers Association 406-581-8226 • stefanie@mtsheep.org

October 2025 • Sheep Industry News • 9

These initiatives have virtually eliminated trapping and a spring bear hunt, and now they have brought wolves to our doorstep with endangered species protections. We all know how vulnerable sheep are and this predator load is becoming impossible to overcome.” Working with Others The Sperry’s and Deals are active members of the Western Slope Woolgrowers and the Colorado Wool Growers Association, often working with other producers across the state on industry issues. Their lambs are fed with Harper Feeders in Eaton and usually pur chased by Superior Farms. “We are hoping to get into a direct-to-consumer market this year and work with a local processor, but that is still in the works and not finalized,” Renee said. They’ve also helped bring new producers into the industry. “We buy rams from a local first-generation Polypay producer who was mentored by our ram supplier,” Renee explained. “We’ve worked with him to get his rams sold with our seed stock ewe lambs over different parts of the country. He has built his operation up nicely over the past several years.” In addition, they’ve sold seed stock to dairy and cattle producers in the Midwest and Eastern states who are making the switch to sheep. Looking Ahead The family hopes to expand into new markets, strengthen their agrivoltaics grazing partnership, and entice the next generation to return. “We are hoping to expand into new markets, like DTC, and we’re excited to see how our agrivoltaics grazing partnership evolves,” Renee said. “We are also hoping to entice our kids to come back and join the business if we can improve our profitability and enter some new marketing opportunities.” Lonnie has also been focusing on livestock guardian dogs. “I’ve been working more closely with the dogs and I’m hoping to work on a better training and breeding protocol so that they are more effective and better utilized,” he said. A Life They Love Through the ups and downs, Renee and Lonnie are grateful for their life on the ranch. “We love where we get to live,” Renee said. “Our little slice of heaven is remote, peaceful and God’s Country. There’s nowhere else I’d rather live. We also love being able to share it with our grandson. He is the light of our life, and he loves coming up to the ranch and seeing all the animals.” The history of the place is never far away. Renee often thinks of her grandfather, Lee Sperry. “My grandfather used to tell me, ‘There’s nothing like sitting on the porch and watching the sheep grow.’ He was an amazing man, building his own power plant to power the buildings before the local electric company installed lines up to the ranch,” Renee said.

“He worked on airplane gunnery systems during WWII but always wanted to be a pilot. So, after the war, he got his pilot’s license, bought a Piper Clipper and built an airplane hangar on the ranch. He used the plane to drop salt to the cattle, look for strays (for himself and the neighboring ranches) and get supplies. He would take off and land on the homemade airstrip on skis in the winter! That beat trying to plow out and go for supplies with three feet of snow on the ground. The ranch sits at 7,600 feet. I have so many stories, but the image of him landing an airplane on skis always gets me. I never got to see it because that was in the 1950s. The pic ture below is of my grandpa Lee with the plane, my grandmother Imogene and my uncle Brian for an article in Capper’s Farmer, November 1953.”

10 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org

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October 2025 • Sheep Industry News • 13

Scenic - 2 nd Place Stefanie Lewis, Ohio Through the Fog

Scenic - 3 rd Place Chaney Rae Leonard, North Carolina Looking Out into the Great White Open

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October 2025 • Sheep Industry News • 17

Three Weeks Down Under with the Sheep and Wool Industry

Brent Roeder MSU Extension Sheep and Wool Specialist A s one of the largest sheep and wool producers in the world, a lot can be learned from taking a trip down under. I was fortunate enough to spend three weeks in Australia and drove 7,000 miles attending LambEx (the largest technical sheep exposition in the world) and visiting research facilities, stud breeders, and wool industry locations to better understand how the Australian system works. Here’s what I learned… Around 90% of Australia’s 70+ million sheep can be found south of a line from Adelaide to Brisbane in the east and another from Esperance to Perth in the southwest. Most of the sheep are run on improved pastures with 16-20” precipitation in an exceptionally long, coastal growing zone. Summer is their harshest time with temperatures over 100F for extended periods and little rain. In Western Australia where we spent most of our time, the merino breed still dominates, but there are growing numbers of first crosses using either White Suf folks or Dorset’s and a growing number of hair sheep. Most ewes are mated in late summer (December-February), preg nancy scanned, lambed in mobs of 60 to 100 on pasture in mid to late winter (June-August) to get ahead of the spring rains. Ewes are mostly shorn after lambing and lambs are weaned around 60 days of age. Once ewes are shorn and lambs weaned, ewes are run on canola or winter wheat aftermath in the summer. Lambs are marketed light, usually between 50 and 60 pounds as they do not have a market for large lambs. Lambs are usually run on pasture to achieve a final carcass weight around 38 to 42 pounds. With the dry spring they had across southern Australia, they will lot feed many of these lambs to make up for slow gains and lack of pasture. Hay is only fed as an absolute last resort. Some of the notable differences you will see other than driving on the left side of the road are that there is almost no plastic anywhere. All disposable cups, plates, bags, and sil verware are made from wood products. Fuel is expensive and there are no gooseneck trailers. You either haul a few sheep in the back of a Ute, pull a small trailer or schedule a multi decked semi. In 7,000 miles across the south, we only saw about one hundred head of cows. All the cattle are run on the north side of the country. The lamb was particularly good and could be found in any restaurant or grocery store. The beef

was not so good and harder to find. The big pipelines that one sees running everywhere transport drinking water as Western Australia is especially short of useable groundwater. Every building has a rain catchment system. There is a complete ab sence of any firearms. A special permit will allow a producer to keep up to three guns for fox and kangaroo control in a locked safe. The police force is privately contracted in Western Australia, and they can enter your house at any time to check on your guns or pull you over for no reason to search your ve hicle or give you a breathalyzer test. There is almost no manu facturing. Everything is either imported or exported with iron ore, minerals, canola, wheat, beef and lamb and wool being major exports. Producers have extremely limited options to do any value-added processing with either lamb or wool. They are very aware of their strategic situation in the Pacific and several

18 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org

lenges our producers face in the US. There was much talk of climate change, and I pointed out we (in Montana) went from -40 to 110 degrees in one year, grow most of our pasture in 45 days and it must provide feed for the rest of the year, and we face multiple layers of constant predation pressure. They tend to view their exports as the US grain, beef or pork produc ers view other countries around the world. One producer threw some numbers at me that I had to triple check. The US consumer eats around ninety-nine pounds of chicken per year, sixty-seven pounds of pork, around fifty-four pounds of beef and one pound of lamb. If the US consumer would eat just ten pounds of lamb, the US would consume all the lamb produced in the United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Aus tralia and that is why they view our market as a gold mine. This is certainly not a criticism of the American Lamb Board as they worked hard to get the American consumer to find lamb again and are making progress. But the final thought is that Australia will continue to send a lot of lamb to the US, and it will be interesting to see if we can find a way to increase consumption in the US while protecting the next generation of US sheep producers.

people expressed their thanks for the US forces during WWII and our continued presence in the area. One of the important things I learned was why they still focus on wool production so much when they are exporting so much lamb. Most of the places we visited are running about one sheep to every two acres year-round. As they still have a steady supply chain into to China, their wool moves pretty fast and at decent prices. Many operations still generate around $50-80 Australian per ewe on their wool, so they are making $25 to 40 ($16 to $26 USD) per acre just on wool. Their light lambs sell for much less than ours do in the US and in April they were getting $35 per head for their lambs, but the price has about doubled now. Animal welfare is a huge issue down there as they export almost everything. As the fashion indus try has said they need to find an alternative to mulesing, they have started developing a “sustainable” merino. These sheep really look and produce like our western whiteface ewes. They weigh about 145 pounds, have almost no wrinkles, shear around ten pounds of 19-micron wool and can wean over 150% lamb crop on pasture. Modern genomics or DNA testing has allowed them to make immense progress on multiple traits in a brief period of time to address these marketing issues. They too worry about the markets and infrastructure even with 70+ million sheep. Many people were amazed to learn the US had over fifty million sheep in 1942. They view our US domestic market as a major opportunity. I do not think the producers themselves where aware the chal

October 2025 • Sheep Industry News • 19

White Wool Sheep - 2 nd Place Sara Hollenbeck, Montana Snow Feed Truck

20 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org

October 2025 • Sheep Industry News • 21

White Wool Sheep - 3 rd Place Courtney Townsend, Iowa Little One

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Corner Post Farm Unique Sheep Gifts, Books, Baby Items, T-shirts, Reprints, Sweatshirts, Cards, Calendars & Wool items Plus: Unique Pig, Dairy, Beef, Corn & Tractor Items PO Box 130, Belle Fourche, SD 57717 • 605-892-6311 Your interests always come first at CENTER OF THE NATION WOOL. Reliable Information • Two Warehouses Year-Round Marketing Larry Prager, Belle Fourche, SD 605-892-6311 • 605-210-0872 (cell) Dallin Brady Belle Fourche, SD 605-892-6311 785-443-2821 (cell) Scott Lammers Billings, MT 406-245-9112 406-690-5169 (cell) cornerpostfarm.com cornerpostfarm@gmail.com 309-826-2256

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22 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org

Introducing the New Sustainability Hub on AmericanWool.org

T he American Wool Council has launched a brand new addition to the American Wool website: the Sustainabi lity Hub. These pages are designed as a go-to resource for anyone interested in how American wool contributes to a healthier planet and a more responsible future. As interest in sustainable materials continues to grow, this dedicated space helps communicate the long-standing practices and values that make American wool a strong part of the solution to a better planet. From responsible land management to high standards of animal care, the Hub offers a look into what our growers have been doing for generations — all while providing updated information, science, and stories for today’s more infor med audience. We’ve organized the Hub into three main focus areas: the fiber, the land, and the animals. Each section reflects the care and commitment that our industry puts into producing a natural, renewable resource, with links to stories and videos that showcase

real examples of how those values show up in everyday ranching practices across the country. This site serves as both an educational and supportive tool, of fering brands and consumers a place to explore the sustainability story of American wool. It provides clear, science-based informa tion and messaging that help communicate the value of natural, responsible materials to today’s informed audience. Importantly, this is just the beginning. The Hub will be a living resource that will continue to evolve as we gather new data, share producer stories, and highlight the innovative work being done across our community. You can explore the new Sustainability Hub at: americanwool.org/sustainability

For generations, wool producers have combined responsible land and animal stewardship with a

commitment to innovation and progress. This new platform is one more way we can help share that story with the world.

October 2025 • Sheep Industry News • 23

24 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org

Naturally Colored Sheep - 1 st Place Courtney Townsend, Iowa Unlikely Pair

October 2025 • Sheep Industry News • 25

Naturally Colored Sheep - 2 nd Place Sarah Krebs, Oregon Maybe He’s Born with It, Maybe It’s Lanolin

Buyer of Feeder and Fat Lambs. Custom Feeding.

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Serving producers since 1947 406-994-2100 mtwool@montana.edu https://ecommerce. montana.edu/woollab

Mike H. Harper Cell: 970-381-1238 Office: 970-454-3181 Fax: 970-454-3210 Catherine Harper Cell: 970-590-7342 Email: harperfeeders1977@gmail.com PO Box 36, Eaton, CO 80615

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26 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org premier1supplies.com/advice

Naturally Colored Sheep - 3 rd Place Alison Borcher, Wyoming Colored Ewes Waiting for Dinner

Pipestone Lamb & Wool Program • Online Course Offerings • Short Courses and Tours • Home Study Sheep Course www.pipestonesheep.com 507-825-6800 | 800-658-2330 A member of Minnesota State

October 2025 • Sheep Industry News • 27

28 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org

Hair Sheep - 1 st Place Chaney Rae Leonard, North Carolina Let’s Go Girls

October 2025 • Sheep Industry News • 29

Hair Sheep - 2 nd Place SharRon Hallman, Oregon New Baby

Hair Sheep - 3 rd Place Josie Hernandez, Wyoming Curious Katahdins

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October 2025 • Sheep Industry News • 31 Premier1Supplies.com • 800-282-6631

32 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org

Open - 1 st Place Tiffany Eicher, Pennsylvania Untitled

October 2025 • Sheep Industry News • 33

Open - 2 nd Place Beth Warner, Georgia Feeding Chore Done Open - 3 rd Place Alan Wilder, Maryland A Pair of Perendales

34 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org

ASI Accepting Award Nominations

I t’s time once again to submit nominations for ASI awards, which will be presented during the ASI Annual Convention on Jan. 28-31, 2026, in Reno, Nevada. The deadline for all award nominations is Nov. 14. There are five awards open for nominations: The McClure Silver Ram Award, the Peter Orwick Camptender Award, the Distinguished Producer Award, the Industry Innovation Award and the Shepherd’s Voice Award. The McClure Silver Ram Award is dedicated to volunteer commitment and service and is presented to a sheep pro ducer who has made substantial contributions to the sheep industry and its organizations in his/her state, region or nation. The Peter Orwick Camptender Award recognizes indus try contributions from a professional in a position or field related to sheep production. Nominees should show a strong commitment and a significant contribution to the sheep in dustry, its organizations and its producers above and beyond what is called for in his/her professional capacity. The Distinguished Producer Award was launched in 2014

to recognize the 150th anniversary of the national organiza tion – the oldest livestock association in the country. This award is a way to recognize an individual who has had a significant long-term impact on the industry, including involvement with the National Wool Growers Association or American Sheep Producers Council. The Industry Innovation Award recognizes the accom plishments of an individual or organization that improves the American sheep industry in a game-changing way, regardless of whether its impact is felt at the regional or national level. The Shepherd’s Voice Award for Media recognizes out standing coverage of the sheep industry by either print or broadcast outlets. The award excludes all publications and affiliates related solely to the sheep industry, allowing for recognition of outlets with general coverage of sheep indus try issues. Nominations must be submitted to ASI by Nov. 14, and past recipients of these awards are not eligible. Visit sheepu sa.org/newsmedia/awards for more information.

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October 2025 • Sheep Industry News • 35

Breeders’ Directory AKBASH LIVESTOCK PROTECTION DOGS AKBASH DOG ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA AkbashClub.com • akbashdogAA@gmail.com Established in 1978. Proven livestock

BLACK WELSH MOUNTAIN AMERICAN BLACK WELSH

DORPER TJ DORPER'S SHEEP FARM Tim and Meloni Barman

MOUNTAIN SHEEP ASSOCIATION Eugenie McGuire, Secretary/Treasurer P.O. Box 534, Paonia, CO 81428 info@blackwelsh.org • blackwelsh.org DESERT WEYR 16870 Garvin Mesa Road, Paonia, CO 81428 970-527-3573 • sales@desertweyr.com BORDER COLLIES Karl Hostetler 8111 Hwy. 168, Shelbyville, MO 63469 660-988-8422 or 573-633-2012 Top American and Imported bloodlines. Puppies and occassionally started or trained dogs available. COLUMBIA Charles Worm, Executive Secretary PO Box 722, Lakefield, MN 56150 507-360-2160 • charliew@extendedag.com Columbiasheep.org The all-american breed. SNYDER RANCHES, LLC PO Box 363, Norwood, CO 81423 970-327-0271 • Cell: 970-708-9906 snyderranch56@yahoo.com Providing quality Columbia range rams to producers for three generations! COOPWORTH AMERICAN COOPWORTH REGISTRY Marianne Dube, Secretary PO Box 48, West Newbury, VT 05085 802-429-2064 info@AmericanCoopworthRegistry.org AmericanCoopworthRegistry.org To learn about hardy, productive, dual-purpose Coopworths, visit us and our members online. DEBOUILLET HILLINGDON RANCH Robin, Carol, Grant & Misty Giles 346 Giles Ranch Road, Comfort, TX 78013 830-995-3917 • Cell: 254-592-3746 gileslivestock@hotmail.com Years of wool, gain and ultrasound data; 18.2 micron clip; stud rams & ewes with more than 1 lb. average daily gain and 2.5 REA CWT. DONHE MERINO PAUL & RENAE NEILSON COLUMBIA SHEEP BREEDERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

19734 Brimhall Rd Bakersfield, CA 93314 661-549-1473 (cell) • 701-570-3281 (cell) TJDorpers.com • Tim@tjdorpers.com Registered fullblood breeding stock. Bred for easy keepers, breed all year around. White Dorper, Black Head Dorper.

protectors. UKC Registered – Pure Turkish Akbash Dogs. Breeder list on website. Like us on Facebook at Akbash Dog Club. AMERICAN BORDER LEICESTER AMERICAN BORDER LEICESTER ASSOCIATION Lynnsey Logan, Secretary 614-774-1175 • borderleicesters.org americanborderleicesterassn@gmail.com AMERICAN HAMPSHIRE AMERICAN HAMPSHIRE SHEEP ASSOCIATION Tor Sorensen, Executive Secretary PO Box 27 Sedalia, MO 65302 • 785-456-8500 asregistry@gmail.com • Hampshires.org If you are looking for sheep with NSIP data, farm flock sheep, show sheep or club lambs, Hampshires is the breed for you. AUSTRALIAN/AMERICAN WHITE SHEEP HARRISON VALLEY FARMS Kim Harrison 5199 County Rd 351, Fulton, MO 65251 573-590-0643 cell • Australianwhiteusa.com KHarrison@harrisonvalleyfarms.com The Australian and American White Sheep are poised to become "Champions of the Lamb Meat Market" with lambs that thrive and per form in forage-based finishing systems, as well as grain-based feedlot environments. Adaptable and low maintenance sheep. Specifically bred for high meat quality and a premium dining experience. This includes higher Omega 3, lower fat melting points, more intramuscular fat, unmatched tenderness and flavor, and consistency in carcass size. SADDLE ROCK RIDGE FARM Claire Sandbothe 4711 Route M, Jefferson City, MO 65101 573-257-0283 • twodraftmom@gmail.com See AustralianWhiteUSA.com for more information about the breed new to the USA. Selling percentage and full-blooded Australian Whites. Ewes and rams. Naturally raised sheep. Look for my farm page "Saddle Rock Ridge Farm" on Instagram and Facebook. BARBADOS BLACKBELLY BARBADOS BLACKBELLY SHEEP ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL Constance Katzenbach, recording secretary 90 Lambertville Hopewell Road recordingsecretary@blackbellysheep.org Registering Barbados Blackbelly (polled) and American Blackbelly (horned) sheep. Two beautiful hairsheep breeds, highly resistant to parasites and hoof problems. Non-seasonal breeders with easy lambing, a high rate of multiples and excellent mothering traits. Hopewell, NJ 08525 Blackbellysheep.org

WILLOW CREEK RANCH STROMAN RANCH L.C. Bill Stroman

Box 4, Sterling City, TX 76951 wmstroman73@gmail.com DORSET K+H SHEEP COMPANY Kyle Hunter 72609 304th St. Collins, IA 50055 765-429-7622 • Khunter@pulseag.com Khsheep.com + PulseAg.com Commercial Production Dorset Sheep. Foot rot & Q Fever free, bio-secure facility, closed flock, high ADG, great mothering ewes, thick, easy care, high EBVs and productive sheep EAST FRESIAN & TUNIS WHISPERING PINES FARM, DAIRY & CHEESE 681 Campbell Bridge Road, Seneca, S.C. 29678 864-360-3222 • dairysheepdeb@gmail.com Dairy sheep ewes, rams and lambs. Multi- purchase discounts, starter flocks.Classes and Mentoring for milking and cheese making. Add East Fresian bloodlines to meat sheep – Grow market lambs faster. Sheep and Goat colostrum for sale. FINNSHEEP FINNSHEEP BREEDERS’ ASSOCIATION PO Box 231, 420A Lincoln Wamego, KS 66547 • 785-456-8500 asregistry@gmail.com • Finnsheep.org Finnsheep are a multi-purpose breed. In the United States, their primary use has been in cross-breeding programs to increase the lamb ing percentage of commercial flocks. GOTLAND AMBLING BROOK FARM’S RAINBOW GOTLANDS Dr. Polly Matzinger 4810 Elmer Derr Road, Frederick, MD 21703 240-444-2047 • amblingbrookfarm@gmail.com 100% Gotlands from imported embryos, & vari ous percentages from Shetland or Leicester (BL & BFL) foundation ewes. A rainbow of colors (traditional Blue-Grey, as well as Black, Brown, White & Red/Moorit). Ram leasing, starter flock discounts, imported Swedish and New Zealand Gotland semen. 24/7 mentoring regarding sheep and herding dogs. Humane certified.

PO Box 656, Meeker, CO 81641 970-623-2098 • 970-878-5102 rbcvet1@gmail.com

Truly dual purpose sheep. Prime lamb dams with Merino quality wool. Rams for sale.

36 • Sheep Industry News • sheepusa.org