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USDA releases Sheep 2011 Part II reportThe U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has released the second descriptive report from its Sheep 2011 study: Part II: Reference of Marketing and Death Loss on U.S. Sheep Operations. The report was produced by APHIS's National Animal Health Monitoring System. The NAHMS Sheep 2011 study was conducted in 22 of the nation's major sheep-producing states and marks the first time in 10 years that NAHMS has taken an in-depth look at the U.S. sheep industry. The study provides participants, stakeholders, and the industry with valuable information representing 70.1 percent of U.S. farms with ewes and 85.5 percent of the U.S. ewe inventory. Here are a few highlights from the Sheep 2011 Part II report: --Overall, 75.3 percent of lambs were sold in the United States during 2010. Of those, 27.3 percent were sold at auction/sale barn, 24.9 percent were sold directly to slaughter, and 17.3 percent were sold directly to buyer/dealers. --Predator losses have a substantial economic impact on U.S. sheep operations. Overall, coyotes caused the highest percentage of losses due to predators (51.8 percent), but predator losses varied by geographic location, flock size, and flock type. --Almost one-fourth of operations (23.9 percent) had a private veterinarian visit for any sheep-related reason during 2010. --Overall, 80.2 percent of operations with 20 or more ewes sheared lambs and sheep during 2010. Date: 2/25/2013
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