Arizona Wool production in 1958 was estimated to be higher by two per cent over that of 1957. Projection for 1958 is estimated at 3,141,000 compared to 3,055,000 in 1957. It was 10 per cent higher than the 10 year average for the years 1947-1956. The increase for 1958 was due to 2,000 more sheep shorn this year (431,000) and the increase in average weight per fleece.

The United States as a whole saw an increase of two per cent increase in wool shorn for 1958. There was an increase of three per cent more sheep shorn across the states but with a decrease of 1 per cent in average fleece weight. Total wool shorn was 240,446,000 pounds in the United States. There were 29,418,000 sheep shorn.

Arizona was only a small percentage of the total for the United States. At this time in Arizona there were few sheep outfits, but then Arizona never had more than 200 sheep outfits at the height of the industry, and it was probably more in the neighborhood of 150, and the state had just shy of two million sheep.

The above information comes from The Stockman, September 1958.

For comparison, as of January 1, 2023, the United States has 5 million sheep with sheep found in every state, including Alaska and Hawaii. Arizona is listed as having 90,000 sheep which includes those sheep on the reservations. Arizona ranks second in the number of total sheep operations, 7,509; and with Texas having nearly double that number, 14,672. These figures are found at http://www.sheepusa.org – The American Sheep Industry.