Sheep and Goats in Minnesota
Sheep
There are approximately 5.5 million sheep in the United States. Minnesota has about 3,000 sheep farms with more than 130,000 sheep. The industry contributes over $13.5 million annually to the state’s economy, largely through the sale of lamb. The value of the sheep industry nationwide is $500 million annually.
Goats
There are approximately 3 million goats in the United States. In Minnesota there are 1,500 goat farms with over 38,000 goats. Historically, goats have been raised primarily as a hobby in the United States, though the U.S. is a global leader in mohair production. Minnesota has seen a growing demand for goat meat by ethnic communities in addition to a growing demand for goat milk and dairy products.