Sheep growers in the Midwest and the I-29 corridor have the best market opportunities of anywhere in the United States. That was focus of the South Dakota Sheep Growers Convention in Brookings this weekend. SDSU Extension Sheep Specialist Jeff Held says the highest quality lamb is produced in the region, but those producers also have no trouble finding a market and receive a good price.
He says Sioux Falls Regional Livestock in Worthing is a market leader. They started marketing sheep in 2010 and this last year sold nearly 69,000 head from all over the U.S.
Jim Percival with the American Lamb Board says they are also working to market lamb to consumers and make sure they receive a premium product.
American consumers eat less than a pound of lamb per year, so there is potential for growth. Percival says right now the biggest growth among demographics is millennials, who want a bold and adventurous taste experience.
