Sheep Dairy

I didn't want to be shearing sheep. I researched it from one end to the other and decided on Dorpers. But a sweet deal came up on the 4 ewes and we couldn't pass it up. I didn't want to start with expensive sheep and kill them with ignorance, so what I have is just fine. As I learn, I will upgrade the flock.

Absolutely. I want Katahdins but am not opposed to a cross either. I see some crossed with Dorpers in my area. Keeping the wool clean and shearing and all that is way too much for me!

Are rams like bucks? You have to keep them separate except when you want them to breed?

Baymule said:

Makes me want sheep cheese and caramels!

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When one milks ewes to make human edibles , you are stealing nutrition from the ewes' lambs so they become malnurished and / or stunted simply because the ewe just can't produce enough milk in the very short 3-5 month annual lactation cycle for both . So, are their lambs killed or bottle fed which is a labor intensive venture not to mention the high cost of milk replacer. ? ? ?

I've had sheep cheese before and it was actually very good!
I wonder how much they give... They didn't have very impressive udders in the pic...

Bossroo said:

When one milks ewes to make human edibles , you are stealing nutrition from the ewes' lambs so they become malnurished and / or stunted simply because the ewe just can't produce enough milk in the very short 3-5 month annual lactation cycle for both . So, are their lambs killed or bottle fed which is a labor intensive venture not to mention the high cost of milk replacer. ? ? ?

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Or sold as bottle babies...

You don't have to bottle feed by hand. I forget what it's called, but a lot of people use what looks like a big bucket filled with milk with teats attached so multiples can drink at once. I'm sure the males are for meat, though.

Bossroo said:

When one milks ewes to make human edibles , you are stealing nutrition from the ewes' lambs so they become malnurished and / or stunted simply because the ewe just can't produce enough milk in the very short 3-5 month annual lactation cycle for both . So, are their lambs killed or bottle fed which is a labor intensive venture not to mention the high cost of milk replacer. ? ? ?

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Most lambs are not nursed for 3-5 months.
You can keep an a sheep in lactation far longer if milking.

We don't have sheep but with the goats there is plenty to do both.
More than likely the ram lambs are sold off immediately or raised for market.
Lambar buckets are efficient and not time consuming and great management.

If running a sheep dairy I am quite sure, like goats, they are given additional feed to keep ewes healthy and nutritional needs met as well as higher production.

Cool! That'd be awesome if when I get my Katahdins next year I could try some milk too.

NH homesteader, yessssss, get some!

Just a couple... If hubby lets me!

Bossroo said:

When one milks ewes to make human edibles , you are stealing nutrition from the ewes' lambs so they become malnurished and / or stunted simply because the ewe just can't produce enough milk in the very short 3-5 month annual lactation cycle for both . So, are their lambs killed or bottle fed which is a labor intensive venture not to mention the high cost of milk replacer. ? ? ?

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I imagine dairy ewes are treated much like dairy cows, with the offspring bottle-fed and either raised for meat, or for replacement milkers. With dairy cows, are the calves pulled immediately and bottle-fed colostrum, or are they left with the cow for a day or so and then pulled?

For the smaller farmer that wants to hand milk a few ewes, it doesn't have to make the lambs malnourished or stunted. If you have a ewe that is capable of producing plenty of milk (and some breeds or individual ewes will do better than others), and practice good management, it's not hard.

I waited till my lambs were a week or two old. No pulling lambs, no bottle feeding - I left them with their mom. I only milked once a day, in the morning, after separating the lambs and ewes overnight. My ewes had no problem giving me a cup or two of milk, and producing plenty for their lambs. I milked ewes that had singles and twins; I would not milk a ewe raising triplets. I fed my ewes extra while on the milkstand, and I kept track of their body condition and how their lambs were doing. I would have stopped milking anyone who I felt was not doing well. The lambs also got food and water while separated.

I have heard this objection before - that you are 'stealing from the lamb' when you milk a sheep. I've never heard milking a cow or goat spoken of in the same way. Is that because cows and goats are 'traditional' dairy animals, and sheep are not? Well, some sheep breeds are used as dairy animals, and have been for hundreds of years.

I didn't do much milking this year due to some logistics problems, but I'm looking forward to milking again next spring and summer. And raising good lambs, too.

Bossroo said:

When one milks ewes to make human edibles , you are stealing nutrition from the ewes' lambs so they become malnurished and / or stunted simply because the ewe just can't produce enough milk in the very short 3-5 month annual lactation cycle for both . So, are their lambs killed or bottle fed which is a labor intensive venture not to mention the high cost of milk replacer. ? ? ?

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The offspring are bottle fed for replacement ewes or meat just like any dairy operation
Cost is offset by high priced cheeses and caramels
You do like to see farms make a PROFIT
Seems they have found a way