Texas sheep and goat prices rise as supply tightens

Texas sheep and goat producers are benefiting from strong market conditions in early 2025 with seasonal supply trends supporting elevated prices.

Current market conditions are in line with expected seasonal patterns, with a tighter supply leading to higher prices, said Jake Thorne, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service sheep and goat program specialist and assistant professor in the Department of Animal Science, San Angelo.

“Sheep and goats both have fairly seasonal breeding patterns, most breed in the fall and give birth in the spring, leading to a higher supply of lambs and kids in late summer,” Thorne said. “That influx often depresses prices, but this time of year, we see lower supply, which helps keep the market strong.”

Market trends and pricing

Producers with off-season breeding schedules — producing lambs and kids in the fall — are benefiting from high sale barn prices. Thorne said some premium goat prices have exceeded $4 per pound, a promising sign for producers selling high-quality animals.

In general, lamb prices above $3 per pound are considered strong, with anything over $3.50 per pound deemed excellent. Goat prices follow a similar trend, with $3.50 per pound considered strong and anything above $4 per pound highly favorable.

However, Thorne said the summertime price slump caused by higher supplies can send prices below $2 per pound.

Texas leads national production

Texas remains the nation’s top sheep and goat producer, with more goats than the next 10 states combined. The state’s goat industry is dominated by Boer and Spanish breeds, while its sheep sector features a high percentage of hair sheep such as Dorpers, which are popular in the nontraditional meat market.

“A large portion of Texas sheep and goats are shipped to metropolitan areas, particularly along the East Coast, where demand from ethnic communities remains strong,” Thorne said.

Possible headwinds for rest of 2025

Despite its production dominance, the U.S. supplies only 30-40% of domestic demand for lamb and goat meat. The remainder is imported primarily from Australia and New Zealand, which can create pricing challenges for domestic producers.

While current market conditions remain favorable, there are potential challenges ahead. Imported lamb and goat meat, often produced at a lower cost, competes with U.S. producers, limiting how high domestic prices can rise.

Other concerns include predator management, parasite control and potential disease threats. Although highly pathogenic avian influenza, HPAI, has not significantly impacted smaller ranch animals, Thorne advised producers to remain vigilant.

“Imports can undercut domestic prices, making it difficult for U.S. producers to achieve higher premiums,” Thorne said.

“There was a confirmed HPAI case in a Minnesota goat last year, but no widespread issues since,” he said. “Keeping livestock separate from poultry and monitoring for signs of illness is a good practice.”

With steady demand and Texas leading national production, the Lone Star State’s sheep and goat industry remains in a strong position, Thorne said. However, competition from imports and seasonal price shifts will be key factors to watch in the months ahead.

AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:

Central

Warm temperatures prevailed with very high winds and scattered showers. Many ranchers and residents were on edge about wildfire risk. The high winds did cause damage to barns, fences and other structures. Soil moisture levels declined. Stock tanks and creeks remained low. Perennial warm-season grasses remained dormant. Small grains and oats were damaged by the freezing temperatures and lower wind chills, but most fields recovered. Most of the wheat and oat fields were being grazed. Corn and sorghum plantings were in progress. Pest issues remained light with minimal reports of rust and few fields with aphids. The sheep and goat market remained strong. Livestock were getting supplemental feed and were in good to fair condition.

Rolling Plains

The weather was very dry with trace amounts of rain in some areas. Most grass remained dormant and wheat struggled. High winds further dried out the soil, made fieldwork difficult and raised concerns about grass fires. Some areas received rain, sleet and snow over the weekend, but others, especially in the eastern and southern parts of the district, missed out on significant moisture. The region was in urgent need of rain to support wheat and oats and to improve pasture conditions. Producers continued to provide supplemental feed for livestock. Cattle were in poor to fair condition due to the lack of forage, and hay consumption was higher than usual. Some pastures were showing signs of seasonal rye grass growth, but overall conditions were poor.

Coastal Bend

Dry, windy conditions persisted, and rapidly depleted soil moisture. Soil conditions worsened with many areas too dry for planting. Corn planting was nearly complete in some areas, though some acres may shift to sorghum if rain does not arrive. Sorghum planting was over 50% finished but paused due to dry conditions. Cotton planting remained uncertain, as most producers were waiting for moisture. Fertilizer applications continued ahead of planting. Pasture conditions were deteriorating, and what little green-up occurred was drying out. Hay supplies were depleting faster than expected, with limited availability for purchase. Cattle were being sold earlier than usual as producers managed herds according to worsening conditions. Livestock were struggling to maintain their body condition despite ongoing supplementation.

East

Temperatures were up and down as heavy rains and strong winds tore through the district. Pastures and gardens were too wet to access. Pasture and rangeland conditions were fair to good. Subsoil and topsoil conditions were adequate. Lakes, ponds and creeks were full or overflowing. Sabine County reported an EF-1 tornado touching down. High winds across the district caused damage to barns, fences and trees. Cattle market prices were strong overall. Livestock were doing fair to good with supplemental feeding taking place. Wild pig damage continued.

Southeast

Soil moisture conditions were short to surplus. Many areas experienced some rainfall, while other areas remained dry. Cooler temperatures slowed warm-season grass growth in some areas. Pasture and rangeland conditions were very poor to excellent. There were signs of freeze damage in wheat and other forages with yellowing of the tops in some fields, but other cool-season forage fields improved with the rainfall and moderate temperatures. Some spring green-up was evident. Livestock conditions were fair to good, and improved grazing conditions were expected to boost body conditions. Bermuda and Bahia grasses started to break dormancy. High winds caused some damage. Rice planting had not begun yet. Corn and sorghum planting continued where producers were able to access fields. Wheat and oats were in fair to excellent conditions with some counties reporting wheat was heading.

South Plains

The district reported very dry conditions until 3-5 inches of snow fell late in the week. The snow quickly melted, and the moisture was expected to dry quickly due to strong winds that followed. Winter wheat was in very poor to poor condition. Cattle were being supplementally fed. Pastures and ranges were in very poor to poor condition.

Panhandle

The district experienced a wide range of weather conditions. High winds and light moisture occurred early in the week with strong winds and fires. Cold weather and snow ended the week and kept producers out of the fields. Overall soil moisture was very short to adequate. Pasture and range conditions were very poor to fair. Overall crop conditions were poor to good. Cattle were still being supplemented with feed and hay on range and pasture. Stockers were being moved from wheat fields bound for grain production and/or to wheat designated for grazing.

North

Counties reported subsoil and topsoil moisture levels were adequate to surplus. Pasture and rangeland conditions were fair and good. Many counties reported cold temperatures, strong storms and high winds, and several inches of rain. High winds caused damage to trees, fences and property. Livestock were in fair to good condition overall. Some spring forage and summer grasses were emerging for grazing. Winter vegetables were coming on strongly. Winter wheat, corn and oats were in fair to good condition.

West Central

Extremely high winds persisted with gusts reaching 55 mph and causing dust storms, downed trees and telephone poles, and minor structural damage. Some areas received up to 0.5 inch of rain early in the week, but strong winds quickly dried the moisture. Soil conditions remained extremely dry, delaying sorghum planting. Some trees began blooming. Wheat and oats showed slight improvement from recent rainfall but remained in need of moisture. Winter wheat showed signs of drought stress. Producers continued plowing fields for spring sorghum and cotton planting, while pastures offered little grazing for livestock. Supplemental feeding remained necessary as pastures stayed dry. While cattle were in fair condition, ranchers urgently needed rain to support wheat growth and replenish stock tanks. The livestock market remained active, with strong demand for steers, heifers and breeding stock, but ongoing warm and dry conditions increased concerns over worsening drought.

Southwest

Weather remained dry and windy, with no measurable precipitation and no rain forecasted. A strong front brought 60 mph winds, causing a 100-acre wildfire in Blanco County. Wildfire risk remained high. Windstorm damage ranged from fallen limbs to broken pump houses. Soils were very dry, though weeds emerged in pastures. Some counties received scattered showers before the winds and variable temperatures, slightly improving rangeland conditions and areas previously burned. Corn planting was in full swing, and irrigated fields were in decent condition. Spring gardeners began transplanting. Grazing lands remained in poor to fair condition due to drought and overgrazing. Livestock conditions were good, with continued supplemental feeding and herd reductions. Spring lambing, kidding and calving continued.

South

Topsoil and subsoil were in very poor condition. Conditions were extremely hot and dry until a cool front dropped temperatures later in the week. High winds persisted for three days. Mornings were cooler, while afternoons remained warm. No rainfall occurred, and none was forecast for the next 10 days. Dry, windy conditions kept farmers out of the fields due to insufficient soil moisture. Mild temperatures and extreme winds created fire hazards, with several fires burning rangeland, pastures and some structures. Some ranchers and hay producers disked their fields but did not plant due to the lack of moisture. Rain or cooler temperatures were needed for young plants. Strawberries began producing but were damaged by sand and wind. Germinated corn and sorghum showed little growth due to dry conditions. Some cotton farmers attempted planting, while others waited for rain. Citrus trees bloomed and began setting fruit. Row crop farmers halted planting, hoping for rain before the end of the month. Dry planting was expected to resume in late March if no rain materialized. Mesquite started leafing, while huisache and blackbrush were in full bloom. Wheat was in poor condition, and non-irrigated fields were stunted due to lack of moisture. Onions remained in good condition, and producers continued harvesting leafy greens. Local irrigation canals remained closed in some areas. Sesame planting was expected to begin soon. Strong winds caused wind erosion in northern parts of the district. Most pastures lacked forage. Those with irrigation began watering to improve pasture quality. Grazing land continued to decline due to lack of rainfall. Stock tanks were extremely low, and some ranchers were hauling water, while others moved cattle to different pastures or culled their herds. Beef cattle prices remained high. Livestock conditions varied depending on supplemental feeding regimens. Feed prices remained high at local stores, and hay was in high demand, costing $100-$130 per round bale. Cattle ranchers and deer producers continued supplementing livestock and wildlife