The praise by Sheepmeat Council of Australia president Kate Joseph comes after the member bodies of the three nation Tri-lamb group – American Sheep Industry Association, Meat and Wool NZ, New Zealand Federated Farmers, Meat Livestock Australia, Sheepmeat Council and American Lamb Feeders - met in Louisville, Kentucky, last week and agreed to extend its collective work for an extra three years, or third term.

"None of us are competitors in the lamb industry – our competitors are other proteins, and in the United States it poultry, pork and beef," Ms Joseph told Rural Press.

Annual United States per capita lamb cansumption is dwarfed by beef at a one pound versus 63 pounds per person.

"Up to 70 per cent of Americans still have never tried lamb so it’s a big job to even get and keep lamb on the shelf," she said.

The United States sheep population has shrunk to 6.7 million head, with lamb typically grown out 10-15 kilograms heavier than Australian weights.

Ms Joseph said the group had been targeting key dieticians and United States opinion makers to promote lamb as a healthy protein option.

In 2008 the United States imported 42,703 tonnes of Australian lamb, up from 26,256t in 2000, making it Australia’s number one export market.

Meat and Wool New Zealand regional North American manager, Kelvin Whall, said this week the achievements of the group extended to sheep genomics work, animal welfare, and climate change and trade policy.

But he said the key benefit of the group was its collective relationship.

"To get to a point where we all sit around a table is especially significant when you think that just in a few years we have moved from a position of antagonism," he said.

New Zealand exported 20,034t of lamb to North America in 2008, up from 15,978t in 2000.

It is New Zeeland’s second largest export continent, behind Europe.