Texas sheep and goat producers are benefiting from strong market conditions in early 2025, as seasonal supply trends support elevated prices.
Current market conditions align with expected seasonal patterns, with 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 in San Angelo.
Producers with off-season breeding schedules—producing lambs and kids in the fall—are benefiting from high sale barn prices. Thorne noted that 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 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.
