The sheep and lamb industry saw prices reach historic levels in 2021. The year of outstanding domestic demand for lamb is summarized in the 2021 Sheep Industry Review. The report is funded by the lamb checkoff and put together by the American Sheep Industry Association.

“The pandemic continued to bring uncertainty during 2021, which drove shifts in consumer food consumption and buying patterns,” said ALB Chair Peter Camino. “Per-capita lamb consumption was 1.36 pounds per person last year, the highest level since the early 1990s.”

The report notes that gains in lamb consumption have been linked to the year-round availability of more lamb cuts in supermarkets and direct sales as a result of COVID-19. There was price uncertainty in 2021 from price inflation and consumer response to higher prices for meat and other goods. However, feeder and slaughter lamb prices gained more than 40%. The wholesale lamb market saw record-high prices.

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