The Kentucky Sheep and Goat Check-Off Program began in 2010 and collects $.50 for every $100 worth of sheep and goats sold in the Commonwealth. According to Kentucky law, Check-Off funds must be used for the purpose of promoting the increased use and sale of sheep and goats.

SHEEP All sheep inventory, 74,000 head, is up 1% from last year, but above the 70,000 head in 2023. Market lambs inventory remained at 18,000. Breeding sheep and lamb inventory increased to 55,000 head with growth in ewe lambs and rams. Kentucky ranks 23rd nationally for sheep inventory. GOAT Meat goat inventory decreased almost 5% from last year to 57,000 head. Milk goat inventory remained steady at 5,800 head. Kentucky ranks 6th for meat goat inventory and 23rd for milk goa

You can download a copy of the report below:

Download a printable copy of the annual report below.

By Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office Saturday, October 19th was a beautiful day for the 2024 KY Annual Producer Conference in Flemingsburg, KY. Over sixty-five sheep and goat producers gathered to spend the day in fellowship and learning. The morning session was dedicated to learning about farmland transition, small ruminant education opportunities, and association meetings. Renee Carrico, Kentucky Farm Bureau, started the day by explaining the KFB Farmland Transitio

Goat producers, industry stakeholders join Commissioner at proclamation signing FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 12, 2024) – Kentucky goat producers and industry stakeholders joined Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell today as he signed a proclamation declaring April as Goat Month in Kentucky. “The diversity of goats on our agricultural landscape is one that needs to be celebrated, particularly this month,” Commissioner Shell said. “Not only do they add a uniqueness to farm lif

Celebrate the diversity sheep, lamb offer Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell, center, named February as Lamb Month in Kentucky during a proclamation signing Tuesday at the Kentucky Department of Agriculture in Frankfort. Joining Commissioner Shell were members of the Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office, sheep producers, and members of the Sunshine Class, a class dedicated to giving special-needs children an opportunity to show animals at the Kentucky State Fair

In the fall of 2023, Jennifer Hardin, Kentucky Association of Meat Processors, wrote the blog post, (linked below) EPA Threatens the Poultry and Meat Processing Industry with New Regulations of Wastewater. We also did a VIP Access Event for our members that highlighted the purposed regulation changes for meat processors. (Members can access the webinar in their KSGDO accounts.) Essentially, the EPA regulation changes have the potential to close the majority of all meat proces