Hi Mary There are wonderful milking sheep. There is several ways to get info. A lot of sheep breeding sites will tell you about the output, breeding potential and such. I can say from my own knowledge that the Icelandic is known for milking. They have been the milk source forever in Iceland and we have around thirty diaries using Icelandic for their cheeses. There are others out there but I can only speak from what I raised. Good luck.
Grace Gerber Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
My sheep are Icelandic..and I do know people not far from here who milk Icelandics..there are several other milk sheep breeds too. My Juliet has quite an udder on her...but I havn't milked her (tiny teats are not my favorite thing!!) as I have always had a dairy animal or two since I have had her. They are nice small, pretty sheep with wonderful dual coated fleeces too. Honestly, I would go with goats for milk (imagine a big soggy wet fleece to deal with hanging over your milk supply on a rainy day) unless you have a milking machine and are really set up. It is a possibility though!
Hi Jenny, Your right about the fleece except those who use milk from sheep have the fleece off them during their milk production. Also, you have to select the right bag structure of you sheep to be milkers. Now if you want also my personal thought on sheep milk I could never get to like the taste of sheep milk but I do love sheep cheese. You really have to do it right. If someone was going with me to determine their pick I would hands down pick a goat over a sheep. I was only answering the question of can you not would I. I had a milking herd of 28 goats and would never have gone into milking my sheep. However, I know plenty who do.
Grace Gerber Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
You know what? I have never known anyone to milk their angora goats. I wonder if there are people who do?? I bet there are. The angora goats I have had (pets for fiber) have mostly been wethers but I do have a little doe now. She has only kidded once and was a neglectful mom so I never bred her again. She is also very undersize. (she was a preemie that a friend gave to me that I bottle raised..she fit in a bootbox easily when I got her) They arn't dairy type goats..but then....I bet it COULD be done..or maybe a cross that could be for fiber and milk both. HMMMMMM>>>>>
Only in their native country would they milk them. Angora do not have much of a milk production but it is a very rich milk. I have only milk an angora to get milk for an orphan kid. Angora goats (Sherlock in my blog is a angora) and I think his is the sweetest thing on four leggs but as I have stated before although I have had hundreds of sheep and loved everyone of them I must say my goats are closer to my heart. They are also very smart and I love that in an animal and in people.
Grace Gerber Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Milk sheep?
Posted - Mar 09 2007 : 09:08:12 AM
