USDA officials have announced the re-opening of the Japanese market for U.S. lamb. The U.S. had been shut out of that market for 15 years following the discovery of BSE in American beef in 2003. American Sheep Industry Association Executive Director Peter Orwick is pleased with the re-opening of that important market.

He says Japanese consumers like rack of lamb, a cut that U.S. producers can provide.

Orwick says since the U.S. was shut out of Japan, Australia and New Zealand had captured most of that market. He says the U.S. has better quality lamb that the Japanese desire.

Orwick says once U.S. beef regained access to Japan, it made it possible for lamb to follow.