Sheep Death Loss - Example Publication

NEWS RELEASE
United States Department of Agriculture
NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE
UTAH FIELD OFFICE
P.O. BOX 150969 · Lakewood, CO 80215-0969

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 15, 2023

Contact: John Hilton
(800) 392-3202
UTAH SHEEP & LAMB LOSSES – 2022

Utah sheep and lamb producers lost 44,500 animals to weather, predators, disease, and other causes during 2022,
representing a total value of $10.06 million, according to a survey conducted by USDA, National Agricultural Statistics
Service, Mountain Regional Field Office. This study was undertaken at the request of the Utah Department of Agriculture
and Food who also provided funding. The total number of sheep and lambs lost was 2,500 head more than last year and the
total value of inventory lost was 3 percent more than a year ago. The January 1, 2022, inventory totaled 270,000 head. The
lamb crop for 2022 was estimated at 225,000 head. Lambs lost before docking during 2022 equaled 19,500 head. Sheep and
lamb deaths for 2022 amounted to 8.7 percent of the 2022 sheep and lamb supply (inventory plus lamb crop plus lambs lost
before docking; 514,500 head).
The number of sheep and lambs lost to all predators totaled 32,900 head, up 5,100 head from last year. Lamb losses by all
predators amounted to 27,200 head, up 14 percent from last year. The number of sheep lost to all predators totaled
5,700 head, up 1,800 head from a year ago. Predators caused an estimated $7.43 million in losses in 2022, up 15 percent
from the previous year. Losses due to predators amounted to 6.4 percent of the 2022 sheep and lamb supply and 73.9 percent
of all sheep and lamb deaths. Coyotes remained the largest predator for both sheep and lambs. Coyotes accounted for
57.4 percent of the predator caused losses and 42.5 percent of all death losses in the state. The value of losses attributed to
coyotes was $4.27 million.
The total value of non-predatory losses was $2.63 million in 2022, compared with $3.28 million in 2021. Non-predatory
losses accounted for 26.1 percent of all losses. The largest non-predatory cause of losses was due to weather conditions, at
2,600 head. Sheep lost to non-predatory factors totaled 3,300 head, down 800 head from 2021. Non-predatory lamb losses
came in at 8,300 head, 1,800 head less than a year ago.
Lambs lost to all unknown causes totaled 3,200 head, compared with 3,600 head last year. Unknown causes claimed
700 sheep, down 100 head from last year.
The sheep and lamb survey utilized multi-frame sampling procedures. The survey involved drawing a random sample from
a list of livestock producers maintained by the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Utah Field Office. In
addition, sheep producers living in a selected sample of area segments were interviewed. This procedure assures complete
coverage of sheep producers by accounting for ranchers/farmers who may not be on the list.
Sheep and lamb loss estimates published by the USDA include sheep losses for the entire year, but include only those
lamb losses that occur after docking. This special report also includes an estimate of lambs lost before docking.

NASS provides accurate, timely, and useful statistics in service to U.S. agriculture. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write:
USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

Losses of Lambs Before Docking, by Cause: Utah, 2017-2022
Cause of Loss
Bears ........................................
Bobcats/Lynx ............................
Coyotes .....................................
Dogs .........................................
Mountain Lions..........................
Foxes ........................................
Wolves ......................................
Eagles .......................................
Ravens ......................................
Other/Unknown 1.......................
Total Predators ..........................
Diseases ...................................
Enterotoxaemia .........................
Weather Conditions ..................
Lambing Complications .............
Old Age .....................................
On Back ....................................
Poison .......................................
Theft ..........................................
Other/Unknown 1.......................
Total Non-Predators ..................
Total Losses................................

2017
200
400
5,700
200
700
400
(D)
500
400
100
8,600
(D)
100
3,000
2,200
NA
(D)
(D)
100
2,000
7,400
16,000

2018
200
500
6,900
500
800
500
(D)
600
400
200
10,600
(D)
100
3,800
3,000
NA
(D)
(D)
100
2,400
9,400
20,000

2019
2020
Number of Head
800
1,500
100
(D)
5,400
5,200
100
(D)
1,100
600
100
400
(D)
(D)
400
1,200
200
700
400
300
8,600
9,900
(D)
200
100
100
2,800
3,600
2,200
900
NA
NA
(D)
(D)
(D)
300
(D)
100
3,300
1,400
8,400
6,600
17,000
16,500

2021
500
(D)
7,000
(D)
1,100
400
(D)
1,100
400
200
10,700
100
100
2,600
2,800
NA
(D)
(D)
(D)
1,700
7,300
18,000

2022
900
300
8,300
(D)
1,100
800
(D)
1,200
600
200
13,400
500
100
2,100
1,600
NA
(D)
100
(D)
1,700
6,100
19,500

Footnotes at bottom of page

Losses of Lambs After Docking, by Cause: Utah, 2017-2022
Cause of Loss
Number of Head
Bears .......................................
Bobcats/Lynx ...........................
Coyotes ....................................
Dogs ........................................
Mountain Lions.........................
Foxes .......................................
Wolves .....................................
Eagles ......................................
Ravens .....................................
Other/Unknown 1......................
Total Predators .........................
Diseases ..................................
Enterotoxaemia ........................
Weather Conditions .................
Lambing Complications ............
Old Age ....................................
On Back ...................................
Poison ......................................
Theft .........................................
Other/Unknown 1......................
Total Non-Predators .................
Total Losses...............................
1

2017
1,600
400
7,700
200
2,800
500
200
100
(D)
100
13,600
(D)
100
900
NA
NA
(D)
400
100
900
2,400
16,000

2018
2,000
400
10,100
500
3,500
600
200
100
(D)
200
17,600
100
100
1,200
NA
NA
(D)
500
200
1,300
3,400
21,000

(D) indicates Un-published: i.e. less than 100 head.
Other/Unknown includes Other and Unknown causes combined with Un-published causes.
Totals may not add due to rounding.

2019
Head
1,800
300
6,700
300
2,000
200
(D)
100
100
300
11,800
(D)
300
1,200
NA
NA
(D)
300
(D)
1,400
3,200
15,000

2020
1,000
(D)
8,400
200
1,500
200
(D)
100
(D)
200
11,600
(D)
100
300
NA
NA
(D)
400
(D)
600
1,400
13,000

2021
1,400
400
7,900
200
2,600
100
(D)
200
200
200
13,200
200
300
600
NA
NA
(D)
200
(D)
1,500
2,800
16,000

2022
1,800
(D)
7,800
400
3,100
100
(D)
200
(D)
400
13,800
100
200
400
NA
NA
(D)
400
200
900
2,200
16,000

Losses of Sheep and Lambs Combined, by Cause: Utah, 2017-2022 1
Cause of Loss
Bears ...................................................
Bobcats/Lynx .......................................
Coyotes................................................
Dogs ....................................................
Mountain Lions ....................................
Foxes ...................................................
Wolves .................................................
Eagles ..................................................
Ravens.................................................
Other/Unknown 2 .................................
Total Predators.....................................
Diseases ..............................................
Enterotoxaemia ...................................
Weather Conditions .............................
Lambing Complications .......................
Old Age ................................................
On Back ...............................................
Poison ..................................................
Theft .....................................................
Other/Unknown 2 .................................
Total Non-Predators ............................
Total Losses ...........................................
Percent of Total by Cause
Bears ...................................................
Bobcats/Lynx .......................................
Coyotes................................................
Dogs ....................................................
Mountain Lions ....................................
Foxes ...................................................
Wolves .................................................
Eagles ..................................................
Ravens.................................................
Other/Unknown 2 .................................
Total Predators.....................................
Diseases ..............................................
Enterotoxaemia ...................................
Weather Conditions .............................
Lambing Complications .......................
Old Age ................................................
On Back ...............................................
Poison ..................................................
Theft .....................................................
Other/Unknown 2 .................................
Total Non-Predators ............................
Total Losses ...........................................
Total Loss as a Percent of Supply 3 ....

2017

2018

2019

2,700
800
16,300
600
4,300
900
300
600
400
400
27,300
100
200
4,400
2,900
1,200
300
1,100
200
3,300
13,700
41,000

3,000
900
20,300
1,500
5,000
1,100
200
700
400
600
33,700
200
300
5,600
3,800
1,400
300
1,200
400
4,100
17,300
51,000

6.6
2.0
39.8
1.5
10.5
2.2
0.7
1.5
1.0
1.0
66.6
0.2
0.5
10.7
7.1
2.9
0.7
2.7
0.5
8.0
33.4
100.0
7.9

5.9
1.8
39.8
2.9
9.8
2.2
0.4
1.4
0.8
1.2
66.1
0.4
0.6
11.0
7.5
2.7
0.6
2.4
0.8
8.0
33.9
100.0
9.6

Dollar Value of Losses by Cause
Bears ...................................................
475
532
Bobcats/Lynx .......................................
126
146
Coyotes................................................
2,727
3,480
Dogs ....................................................
106
271
Mountain Lions ....................................
721
851
Foxes ...................................................
142
179
Wolves .................................................
53
33
Eagles ..................................................
95
114
Ravens.................................................
63
65
Other/Unknown 2 .................................
74
109
Total Predators.....................................
4,581
5,775
Diseases ..............................................
21
38
Enterotoxaemia ...................................
32
54
Weather Conditions .............................
721
943
Lambing Complications .......................
495
662
Old Age ................................................
255
305
On Back ...............................................
64
65
Poison ..................................................
212
234
Theft .....................................................
32
71
Other/Unknown 2 .................................
542
688
Total Non-Predators ............................
2,373
3,059
Total Losses ...........................................
6,953
8,838
(D) indicates Un-published: i.e. less than 100 head.
1
Lamb losses include both before and after docking losses.
2
Other/Unknown includes Other and Unknown causes combined with Un-published causes.
3
Supply equals beginning January 1st inventory plus lamb crop plus before docking death loss.
Totals may not add due to rounding.

2020

Number of Head
3,600
400
14,200
500
4,100
300
(D)
500
300
700
24,600
300
500
4,200
2,900
900
200
1,000
(D)
5,400
15,400
40,000
Percent
9.0
1.0
35.5
1.3
10.3
0.8
(D)
1.3
0.8
1.8
61.5
0.8
1.3
10.5
7.3
2.3
0.5
2.5
(D)
13.5
38.5
100.0
7.4
1,000 dollars
642
66
2,443
87
724
50
(D)
83
50
116
4,259
64
87
703
512
191
43
198
(D)
924
2,722
6,980

2021

2022

3,200
(D)
15,700
400
2,800
600
(D)
1,300
700
800
25,500
400
200
4,200
1,400
1,500
100
1,400
100
2,700
12,000
37,500

2,500
400
17,100
400
4,400
500
(D)
1,300
600
600
27,800
400
500
3,400
3,200
1,900
200
800
(D)
3,800
14,200
42,000

4,000
300
18,900
900
5,200
900
(D)
1,400
600
700
32,900
700
400
2,600
2,300
1,200
(D)
800
400
3,200
11,600
44,500

8.5
(D)
41.9
1.1
7.5
1.6
(D)
3.5
1.9
2.1
68.0
1.1
0.5
11.2
3.7
4.0
0.3
3.7
0.3
7.2
32.0
100.0
7.1

6.0
1.0
40.7
1.0
10.5
1.2
(D)
3.1
1.4
1.4
66.2
1.0
1.2
8.1
7.6
4.5
0.5
1.9
(D)
9.0
33.8
100.0
8.0

9.0
0.7
42.5
2.0
11.7
2.0
(D)
3.1
1.3
1.6
73.9
1.6
0.9
5.8
5.2
2.7
(D)
1.8
0.9
7.2
26.1
100.0
8.7

655
(D)
3,200
83
574
122
(D)
263
142
165
5,204
83
41
854
289
319
21
291
20
554
2,471
7,675

579
94
3,986
91
1,024
118
(D)
306
141
138
6,475
93
116
796
746
418
44
179
(D)
884
3,276
9,750

907
68
4,267
205
1,175
203
(D)
315
135
158
7,431
158
91
586
521
276
(D)
182
91
723
2,627
10,058

NASS provides accurate, timely, and useful statistics in service to U.S. agriculture. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write:
USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

Losses of Sheep, by Cause: Utah, 2017-2022
Cause of Loss

2017

2018

Bears ...................................................
900
800
Bobcats/Lynx ......................................
(D)
(D)
Coyotes ...............................................
2,900
3,300
Dogs ....................................................
200
500
Mountain Lions....................................
800
700
Foxes ..................................................
(D)
(D)
Wolves ................................................
100
(D)
Eagles .................................................
(D)
(D)
Ravens ................................................
(D)
(D)
Other/Unknown 1 .................................
200
200
Total Predators ....................................
5,100
5,500
Diseases .............................................
100
100
Enterotoxaemia ...................................
(D)
100
Weather Conditions ............................
500
600
Lambing Complications ......................
700
800
Old Age ...............................................
1,200
1,400
On Back ..............................................
300
300
Poison .................................................
700
700
Theft ....................................................
(D)
100
Other/Unknown 1 .................................
400
400
Total Non-Predators ............................
3,900
4,500
Total Losses ..........................................
9,000
10,000
Percent of Total by Cause
Bears ...................................................
10.0
8.0
Bobcats/Lynx ......................................
(D)
(D)
Coyotes ...............................................
32.2
33.0
Dogs ....................................................
2.2
5.0
Mountain Lions....................................
8.9
7.0
Foxes ..................................................
(D)
(D)
Wolves ................................................
1.1
(D)
Eagles .................................................
(D)
(D)
Ravens ................................................
(D)
(D)
1
Other/Unknown .................................
2.2
2.0
Total Predators ....................................
56.7
55.0
Diseases .............................................
1.1
1.0
Enterotoxaemia ...................................
(D)
1.0
Weather Conditions ............................
5.6
6.0
Lambing Complications ......................
7.8
8.0
Old Age ...............................................
13.3
14.0
On Back ..............................................
3.3
3.0
Poison .................................................
7.8
7.0
Theft ....................................................
(D)
1.0
1
Other/Unknown .................................
4.4
4.0
Total Non-Predators ............................
43.3
45.0
Total Losses ..........................................
100.0
100.0
Dollar Value of Losses by Cause
Bears ...................................................
191
174
Bobcats/Lynx ......................................
(D)
(D)
Coyotes ...............................................
616
718
Dogs ....................................................
43
109
Mountain Lions....................................
170
152
Foxes ..................................................
(D)
(D)
Wolves ................................................
21
(D)
Eagles .................................................
(D)
(D)
Ravens ................................................
(D)
(D)
1
Other/Unknown .................................
43
44
Total Predators ....................................
1,084
1,196
Diseases .............................................
21
22
Enterotoxaemia ...................................
(D)
22
Weather Conditions ............................
106
131
Lambing Complications ......................
149
174
Old Age ...............................................
255
305
On Back ..............................................
64
65
Poison .................................................
149
152
Theft ....................................................
(D)
22
Other/Unknown 1 .................................
85
87
Total Non-Predators ............................
829
979
Total Losses ..........................................
1,913
2,175
(D) indicates Un-published: i.e. less than 100 head.
1
Other/Unknown includes Other and Unknown causes combined with Un-published causes.
Totals may not add due to rounding.

2019

2020

Number of Head
1,000
(D)
2,100
100
1,000
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
4,200
300
100
200
700
900
200
700
(D)
700
3,800
8,000
Percent
12.5
(D)
26.3
1.3
12.5
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
52.5
3.8
1.3
2.5
8.8
11.3
2.5
8.8
(D)
8.8
47.5
100.0
1,000 dollars
213
(D)
446
21
213
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
893
64
21
43
149
191
43
149
(D)
149
808
1,700

2021

2022

700
(D)
2,100
200
700
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
300
4,000
200
(D)
300
500
1,500
100
700
(D)
700
4,000
8,000

600
(D)
2,200
200
700
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
200
3,900
100
100
200
400
1,900
200
600
(D)
600
4,100
8,000

1,300
(D)
2,800
500
1,000
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
100
5,700
100
100
100
700
1,200
(D)
300
200
600
3,300
9,000

8.8
(D)
26.3
2.5
8.8
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
3.8
50.0
2.5
(D)
3.8
6.3
18.8
1.3
8.8
(D)
8.8
50.0
100.0

7.5
(D)
27.5
2.5
8.8
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
2.5
48.8
1.3
1.3
2.5
5.0
23.8
2.5
7.5
(D)
7.5
51.3
100.0

14.4
(D)
31.1
5.6
11.1
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
1.1
63.3
1.1
1.1
1.1
7.8
13.3
(D)
3.3
2.2
6.7
36.7
100.0

149
(D)
446
43
149
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
64
850
43
(D)
64
106
319
21
149
(D)
149
850
1,701

132
(D)
484
44
154
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
44
858
22
22
44
88
418
44
132
(D)
132
902
1,760

299
(D)
644
115
230
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
23
1,311
23
23
23
161
276
(D)
69
46
138
759
2,070

Losses of All Lambs, by Cause: Utah, 2017-2022 1
Cause of Loss

2017

2018

Bears ...................................................
1,800
2,200
Bobcats/Lynx .......................................
800
900
Coyotes................................................
13,400
17,000
Dogs ....................................................
400
1,000
Mountain Lions ....................................
3,500
4,300
Foxes ...................................................
900
1,100
Wolves .................................................
200
200
Eagles ..................................................
600
700
Ravens.................................................
400
400
Other/Unknown 2 .................................
200
400
Total Predators.....................................
22,200
28,200
Diseases ..............................................
(D)
100
Enterotoxaemia ...................................
200
200
Weather Conditions .............................
3,900
5,000
Lambing Complications .......................
2,200
3,000
Old Age ................................................
NA
NA
On Back ...............................................
(D)
(D)
Poison ..................................................
400
500
Theft .....................................................
200
300
Other/Unknown 2 .................................
2,900
3,700
Total Non-Predators ............................
9,800
12,800
Total Losses ...........................................
32,000
41,000
Percent of Total by Cause
Bears ...................................................
5.6
5.4
Bobcats/Lynx .......................................
2.5
2.2
Coyotes................................................
41.9
41.5
Dogs ....................................................
1.3
2.4
Mountain Lions ....................................
10.9
10.5
Foxes ...................................................
2.8
2.7
Wolves .................................................
0.6
0.5
Eagles ..................................................
1.9
1.7
Ravens.................................................
1.3
1.0
2
Other/Unknown .................................
0.6
1.0
Total Predators.....................................
69.4
68.8
Diseases ..............................................
(D)
0.2
Enterotoxaemia ...................................
0.6
0.5
Weather Conditions .............................
12.2
12.2
Lambing Complications .......................
6.9
7.3
Old Age ................................................
NA
NA
On Back ...............................................
(D)
(D)
Poison ..................................................
1.3
1.2
Theft .....................................................
0.6
0.7
2
Other/Unknown .................................
9.1
9.0
Total Non-Predators ............................
30.6
31.2
Total Losses ...........................................
100.0
100.0
Dollar Value of Losses by Cause
Bears ...................................................
284
358
Bobcats/Lynx .......................................
126
146
Coyotes................................................
2,111
2,763
Dogs ....................................................
63
163
Mountain Lions ....................................
551
699
Foxes ...................................................
142
179
Wolves .................................................
32
33
Eagles ..................................................
95
114
Ravens.................................................
63
65
Other/Unknown 2 .................................
32
65
Total Predators.....................................
3,497
4,583
Diseases ..............................................
(D)
16
Enterotoxaemia ...................................
32
33
Weather Conditions .............................
614
813
Lambing Complications .......................
347
488
Old Age ................................................
NA
NA
On Back ...............................................
(D)
(D)
Poison ..................................................
63
81
Theft .....................................................
32
49
2
Other/Unknown .................................
457
601
Total Non-Predators ............................
1,544
2,080
Total Losses ...........................................
5,040
6,663
(D) indicates Un-published: i.e. less than 100 head.
1
Lamb losses include both before and after docking losses.
2
Other/Unknown includes Other and Unknown causes combined with Un-published causes.
Totals may not add due to rounding.

2019

2020

Number of Head
2,600
400
12,100
400
3,100
300
(D)
500
300
700
20,400
(D)
400
4,000
2,200
NA
(D)
300
(D)
4,700
11,600
32,000
Percent
8.1
1.3
37.8
1.3
9.7
0.9
(D)
1.6
0.9
2.2
63.8
(D)
1.3
12.5
6.9
NA
(D)
0.9
(D)
14.7
36.3
100.0
1,000 dollars
429
66
1,997
66
512
50
(D)
83
50
116
3,366
(D)
66
660
363
NA
(D)
50
(D)
776
1,914
5,280

2021

2022

2,500
(D)
13,600
200
2,100
600
(D)
1,300
700
500
21,500
200
200
3,900
900
NA
(D)
700
100
2,000
8,000
29,500

1,900
400
14,900
200
3,700
500
(D)
1,300
600
400
23,900
300
400
3,200
2,800
NA
(D)
200
(D)
3,200
10,100
34,000

2,700
300
16,100
400
4,200
900
(D)
1,400
600
600
27,200
600
300
2,500
1,600
NA
(D)
500
200
2,600
8,300
35,500

8.5
(D)
46.1
0.7
7.1
2.0
(D)
4.4
2.4
1.7
72.9
0.7
0.7
13.2
3.1
NA
(D)
2.4
0.3
6.8
27.1
100.0

5.6
1.2
43.8
0.6
10.9
1.5
(D)
3.8
1.8
1.2
70.3
0.9
1.2
9.4
8.2
NA
(D)
0.6
(D)
9.4
29.7
100.0

7.6
0.8
45.4
1.1
11.8
2.5
(D)
3.9
1.7
1.7
76.6
1.7
0.8
7.0
4.5
NA
(D)
1.4
0.6
7.3
23.4
100.0

506
(D)
2,754
41
425
122
(D)
263
142
101
4,354
41
41
790
182
NA
(D)
142
20
405
1,620
5,974

447
94
3,502
47
870
118
(D)
306
141
94
5,617
71
94
752
658
NA
(D)
47
(D)
752
2,374
7,990

608
68
3,623
90
945
203
(D)
315
135
135
6,120
135
68
563
360
NA
(D)
113
45
585
1,868
7,988

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