(NASS) – Iowa’s sheep inventory totaled 175,000 head in 2015, rising from 2014 numbers and matching fairly closely inventory numbers of 2013, according to figures from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service’s Sheep and Goats Report.

NASS reported the numbers of both breeding sheep and market lambs rose 13 percent from the previous year.

Total breeding stock, at 125,000 head, was 14 percent more than the previous year. Compared to 2014, market sheep and lambs increased 11 percent to 50,000 head.

The lamb crop for 2014 increased 11 percent to 150,000.Iowa’s wool production was up 6 percent from 2014, at 900,000 pounds.

Nationwide, sheep and lamb numbers came in at 5.28 million, up one percent from 2014.

Other areas of modest inventory increase were seen in breeding sheep and ewes 1 year old and older.

Market lambs made up 94 percent of the total U.S. market inventory, with 24 percent being lambs weighing less than 65 pounds; 12 percent weighed 65 to 84 pounds, and 20 percent weighed between 85 and 105 pounds. Thirty-eight percent weighed more than 105 pounds.

Market sheep made up the remaining 6 percent of the total market inventory.