Lamb is a small component of the overall U.S. animal protein market, but one that is rapidly growing in importance. Approximately 300 million pounds of lamb are sold annually in the United States, with the majority of the product imported from Australia and New Zealand. In the most recent USDA Census of Agriculture, last conducted in 2017, there were 101,387 sheep operations (both wool and meat) in the U.S., an increase of 15% from five years prior.