Marketability of Sheep and Goat Meat in Mississippi

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), as of January 2024, all sheep, lamb, and goat inventory in the U.S. totaled 5.03 million head and 2.4 million head, respectively—both down 2 percent from 2023. Moreover, production in Mississippi totaled 99,000 head, representing a 2 percent increase from 2023, while meat and goat totaled 21,000, up 11 percent from 2023. The marketability of sheep and goat meat in Mississippi is shaped by a combination of factors including including demand and consumer preferences, health and nutrition trends, economic factors, environmental impacts of production, and the development of new products.

Consumer Preferences and Demand

Sheep and goat meat, referred to as mutton (when it is from adult sheep) and chevon, respectively, have been integral to traditional cuisines around the globe for centuries. Their distinct flavors and textures set them apart from other common meats. Research shows that the demand for sheep and goat meat is increasing globally, driven by growing consumer interest in diverse and exotic flavors and the associated nutritional benefits. Moreover, changes in dietary habits, religious beliefs, and cultural traditions have led to an increase in consumption, making it the 4th most consumed meat worldwide. In the U.S., the demand for goat meat has increased in recent years, exceeding the domestic supply. Also, with increased immigration trends from Hispanic, Caribbean, African, Middle Eastern, and Southeast Asian populations, Mississippi has a diversity culture index of 55.9 percent. Therefore, this population diversity offers a wealth of untapped niche markets for producers to target.

Health and Nutrition

Goat and lamb meats offer unique nutrition and health benefits, a rich source of protein, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamin B12, vitamin B2 (riboflavin), calcium, selenium, magnesium, copper, zinc, and potassium, with a digestibility as high as 90 percent in humans.

Economic Factors

Shifts in feed prices, export demand, and trade policies can impact market prices, but overall, sheep and goats remain a cost-effective choice for budget-conscious consumers. In 2024, the retail price for mutton was between $2.68 and $4.02 per pound, while the approximate wholesale price range for U.S. goat meat was between $2.74 to $4.56 per pound.

Impact of Meat Production on the Environment

Compared with other meat types, sheep and goat meat can be considered an environmentally friendly alternative source. The methane emissions released during the production processes for goats are lower than those of other domesticated ruminants per unit of body weight (Figure 2). This can be attributed to the animals’, especially goats’, ability to adapt to changing climate and, feed and water shortages, and their high efficiency in converting feed. Research shows that methane emissions can be effectively reduced through a combination of practices, including limiting concentrate intake, using specific feed additives, and improving pasture management.

Potential Market-oriented Sheep and Goat Meat Products

In general, market-driven strategies in food innovation and the development of novel sheep and goat products are highly valuable. Given the diversity of cultures in Mississippi, its potential for increased production of sheep and goat meat, and, most of all, Mississippians’ willingness to explore culinary options, Mississippi is ideal for fusion cuisine. These products include dried and semi-dried items such as charqui (jerky), dried cured goat legs, sausages, slow-cooked lamb or goat stews, lamb burgers, goat frankfurters, goat patties, goat nuggets, smoked goat ham, and sheep pastrami.

In Mississippi, there are approximately 10 U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) and state-inspected facilities (Table 1). These locations provide slaughter and value-added processing services to small ruminant producers. There is also an alternative option through custom-exempt meat processing, in which animals are processed specifically for personal consumption. Meat processed in this manner is not subjected to continuous inspection under the USDA and cannot be sold commercially.

References

APHIS. (2012). U.S. meat goat operations [PDF]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

Caroprese, M., Albenzio, M., & Sevi, A. (2015). Sustainability of sheep and goat production systems. In Springer eBooks (pp. 65–75).

Ding, W., Lu, Y., Xu, B., Chen, P., Li, A., Jian, F., Yu, G., & Huang, S. (2024). Meat of sheep: Insights into mutton evaluation, nutritive value, influential factors, and interventions. Agriculture, 14, 1060.

Hambaryan, M., Lai, J., & Kassas, B. (2024). Informational nudges to promote preferences for goat meat. Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, 1–16.

Ivanović, S., Pavlović, I., & Pisinov, B. (2016). The quality of goat meat and its impact on human health. Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry, 32, 111–122.

Knight, E. P., House, L., Nelson, M. C., & Degner, R. L. (2006). An evaluation of consumer preferences regarding goat meat in the South. Journal of Food Distribution Research, 37, 88–96.

Koluman, N. (2023). Goats and their role in climate change. Small Ruminant Research, 228, 107094.

Navarrete-Molina, C., Meza-Herrera, C. A., Herrera-Machuca, M. A., Macias-Cruz, U., & Veliz-Deras, F. G. (2020). Not all ruminants were created equal: Environmental and socio-economic sustainability of goats under a marginal-extensive production system. Journal of Cleaner Production, 255, 120237.

Opio, C. (2017). The global livestock environmental assessment model [PDF]. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Pragna, P., Chauhan, S. S., Sejian, V., Leury, B. J., & Dunshea, F. R. (2018). Climate change and goat production: Enteric methane emission and its mitigation. Animals, 8, 235.

Rios De Alvarez, L. (2022). Goats and sheep. Mississippi State University Extension Service.

Schoenian, S. (2015). Producing and selling sheep and goats to the ethnic markets. Maryland Small Ruminant Page.

Selina Wamucii. (2020). Goat meat prices in the United States of America. Selina Wamucii. 

Selina Wamucii. (2020b). Mutton prices in the United States of America. Selina Wamucii.

Teixeira, A., Silva, S., Guedes, C., & Rodrigues, S. (2020). Sheep and goat meat processed products quality: A review. Foods, 9, 960.

U.S. Census Bureau. (2023). 2020 Census: Racial and ethnic diversity index by state. U.S. Department of Commerce.

U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2002). Nutritive value of foods (Home and Garden Bulletin No. 72). Agricultural Research Service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service. (2023). Mississippi state agriculture overview [Data set]. USDA Quick Stats.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service. (2024). Sheep and goats [PDF].

The information given here is for educational purposes only. References to commercial products, trade names, or suppliers are made with the understanding that no endorsement is implied and that no discrimination against other products or suppliers is intended.

Publication 4181 (POD-03-26)

By Kenisha Gordon, former Graduate Student, Animal and Dairy Sciences; and Leyla Rios, PhD, Assistant Extension/Research Professor and Small Ruminant Specialist, Animal and Dairy Sciences. Reviewed by J. Byron Williams, PhD, MSU, and Shecoya White, PhD, and Derris Burnett, PhD, Tuskegee University.