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Barnyard Buddies:  Sheep Milk  |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 16 2008 : 09:15:35 AM
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I'm thinking about getting sheep for milk, I may sell some at a local Farmers market, but mainly it would be for family.
I have had a goat before (yes A goat! lol Not goats). I have never had sheep though.
This is what I am wondering.......
Do you have to keep "breeding" them to get milk. How long should you keep one lactating/producing milk? Could they do it indefinately, or should you stop and wait a while then breed again?
I don't want a LOT of sheep, just enough for the family to have milk. So I'm not really interested in "breeding" too much! Just getting milk. I won't have enough room to really have more then 4 or 5 any way. |
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Tracey
True Blue Farmgirl
766 Posts
Tracey
State of Confusion
USA
766 Posts |
Posted - Mar 17 2008 : 02:15:59 AM
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I milk sheep. They don't have the same lactation length that a goat has, so if you're wanting to milk year around, you'll need two ewes. They also don't put forth the same volume that you may be used to. That said, it's far and away a more nutritional milk than goat or cow.
My first time freshner gave me roughly 250 lbs of milk last year. Her peak was 1/2 gallon per day, which lasted a couple of weeks. I didn't milk beyond 100 days as we were showing her at fairs and it was easier not to worry about stressing her out. I hope to get 400 lbs from her this year (I don't plan on milking as long as commercial dairies do.) Heavy milking ewes can give up to 600 lbs, and there are some with higher yields recorded. In order to get that kind of milk, you're going to need to purchase a dairy breed such as East Friesian or Lacuane.
There are a lot of icelandic breeders who will try to sell you on their breed for milking. They're lovely sheep and for a homestead situation, they're nice. However, you'll need to milk more sheep than if you've got a dairy breed. Plus, no matter how sweet some of them are, they just haven't got the same temperament as a true dairy breed. I say this from personal experience, as I've owned both 
Desperate Horsewife, raising funds for the Mustang Makeover!
http://desperate-horsewife.blogspot.com |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Mar 17 2008 : 07:35:31 AM
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I have Icelandics and although my Juliet is very milky type....very large udder and all...I can't imagine milking her. It would be an index finger and thumb milking for sure and she is short...I would agree with Tracey that a true dairy breed would be better if you plan to milk sheep. Dealing with the wool in the way would be a pain (at least for me) anyhow..but maybe the dairy breeds don't have as much. I have always heard that the sheep's lactations were much shorter...but that could depend on the individual ewe AND the breed, too. You would have to breed at least yearly and stagger the ewe's freshening times for sure to stay in milk..they would for sure not keep going indefinatly.
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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Tracey
True Blue Farmgirl
766 Posts
Tracey
State of Confusion
USA
766 Posts |
Posted - Mar 17 2008 : 08:33:03 AM
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Dairy breeds tend to be a lot cleaner underneath and the standard would say the udder is hairless. The icelandic's value is really in their fleece, and you surely wouldn't want to keep that short through the summer milk season
Here's Bessie, a few days before lambing and no shear/crutch job. Lots easier to work around, but I'll still be shearing before I start any real milking.
Desperate Horsewife, raising funds for the Mustang Makeover!
http://desperate-horsewife.blogspot.com |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Mar 18 2008 : 1:44:14 PM
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| Thanks girls! That helps me a lot! :) As I have no idea what I'm doing! :) |
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Barnyard Buddies: Sheep Milk |
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Sheep Milk
