A3896-01 N G A N I M S I A L A I S R — Guide to raising N F O dairy sheep I O T C C Yves Berger, Claire Mikolayunas, and David Thomas U S D U O N P R O hile the United States has a long Before beginning a dairy sheep enterprise, history of producing sheep for producers should review the following Wmeat and wool, the dairy sheep fact sheet, designed to answer many of industry is relatively new to this country. the questions they will have, to determine In Wisconsin, dairy sheep flocks weren’t if raising dairy sheep is an appropriate Livestock team introduced until the late 1980s. This enterprise for their personal and farm industry remains a small but growing goals. segment of overall domestic sheep For more information contact: production: by 2009, the number of farms in North America reached 150, Dairy sheep breeds Claire Mikolayunas Just as there are cattle breeds that have with the majority located in Wisconsin, Dairy Sheep Initiative been selected for high milk production, the northeastern U.S., and southeastern Dairy Business Innovation Center there are sheep breeds tailored to Canada. Madison, WI commercial milk production: 608-332-2889 Consumers are showing a growing interest n East Friesian (Germany) [email protected] in sheep’s milk cheese. In 2007, the U.S. n Lacaune (France) David L. Thomas imported over 73 million pounds of sheep Professor of Animal Sciences milk cheese, such as Roquefort (France), n Sarda (Italy) Manchego (Spain), and Pecorino Romano University of Wisconsin-Madison n Chios (Greece) Madison, Wisconsin (Italy), which is almost twice the 37 million n British Milksheep (U.K.) 608-263-4306 pounds that was imported in 1985. [email protected] There is unmet demand for sheep milk in n Awassi and Assaf (Israel) Yves M. Berger Wisconsin and throughout the country. In the U.S., however, only the East Friesian Sheep Researcher Domestically, the market for sheep milk and Lacaune are currently available. Spooner Ag Research Station is growing as cheese makers explore the Some non-dairy domestic breeds such as Spooner, Wisconsin potential of producing unique sheep milk Dorset and Polypay are reasonable milk 715-635-3735 and mixed milk cheeses. In 2009, over 1 producers, but the production of these [email protected] million pounds of milk was produced in breeds is far below that of specialized dairy Wisconsin, an increase of 40% from 2004. breeds. Currently the 13 dairy sheep operations in the state both supply local cheese makers and ship frozen milk to other states. East Friesian dairy ewes RAISING ANIMALS—FOCUS ON PRODUCTION Sheep are seasonal breeders and begin Breeding practices mating as the day length shortens in the Facilities Purebred or high percentage dairy ewes Since dairy ewes typically lamb from fall. Under natural light conditions, ewes will produce more milk than non-dairy January to May, producers need a barn will mate from August to December. breeds but generally cost more. A less or shed to accommodate them. Space With a 147-day (approximately 5-month) expensive way to build a dairy flock is to requirements are 15 to 20 square feet per gestation period, lambs are born from mate purebred or crossbred domestic ewes ewe to accommodate the ewe and her January to May. Since lambs can reach with purebred or high percentage East lambs. The structure should have a porous puberty in 7 to 10 months, ewes may have Friesian or Lacaune rams. Producers can floor (dirt, gravel, etc.) to allow moisture to their first set of lambs at either 1 or 2 years continue to increase the dairy percentage move away from the sheep. It should also of age. of their flock by continuous mating of their have adequate ventilation but be free from ewes with dairy rams (Figure 1). Compared Ewes will give birth to one to three lambs drafts to prevent chilling of young lambs. to purchasing dairy ewes from the start, per lambing. Among dairy breeds, Lacaune The type of buildings available on a farm, however, this process requires a longer ewes average 1.8 lambs/lambing and East then, may dictate the choice of lambing period of time before a high percentage Friesian ewes average 2.2 lambs/lambing. season. dairy flock is obtained and may negatively affect the profitability of an operation in Lactation Spring lambing the initial years. Dairy ewes will produce milk from lambing Lambing during the April to May time until the fall, when the shortening day period requires less extensive buildings length decreases milk production. The and may even occur on pasture. The cost Dairy ewe traits cessation of milk production, or dry-off, will of feed also may be reduced because the occur by the end of September or early high nutritional requirements of lactating Mature body weight: October. Therefore, breeding ewes to lamb ewes coincide with pasture growth. 150 to 190 pounds earlier in the calendar year will increase However, ewes that lamb in the spring will Years to reach mature size: lactation length. have a shorter lactation period (no more than 150 days) and decreased overall milk 2 to 3 years Domestic, non-dairy ewes typically lactate production. for 90 to 150 days. Dairy breeds will lactate Productive life span: for 120 to 240 days, thereby increasing 5 to 7 years milk yield per ewe per year. In general, Winter lambing Lambing in winter (January to February) Wool production: producers can expect to milk 85–90% of is very favorable for milk production. Ewes 3 to 10 pounds/year ewes they have bred; some ewes will not increase their feed intake in cool weather be able to be milked due to problems with and thus produce more milk. In addition, Milk composition: breeding, lambing, or mastitis. Fat content = 6–8% lactation length increases to 200 to 240 Protein content = 5–7% days with winter lambing. However, winter lambing requires an increased amount of stored feed and adequate buildings for lambing and lamb rearing. Figure 1. Annual milk production in dairy sheep Year-round milking 1,200 Year-round milking cannot be done 400-1,100 lbs with one group of animals, but it can be 1,000 coordinated with two groups of animals: one group lambing in the winter and 800 the other lambing in the fall. This system 300-650 lbs more efficiently utilizes high-cost milking 600 equipment and the milking parlor. In addition, less equipment and a smaller 400 parlor may be needed, as fewer animals Pounds of milk Pounds are milked per day. For example, a parlor 100-200 lbs 200 designed for 200 ewes may be utilized to milk 400 ewes per year with this system. 0 Hormone or light treatment may be Domestic Dairy/domestic Dairy ewes necessary for a successful spring breeding, ewes crossbred ewes because sheep do not normally exhibit estrus, or heat, at this time of year. 2 Lamb management MIX system Pasture After ewes give birth, lambs are weaned In this system, ewes nurse their lambs for Sheep are very effective grazers and so producers can milk the ewes. There 30 days. One week after lambing, lambs may obtain all or a majority of their are three management systems for the are separated from ewes in the evening, forage requirements from pasture when weaning lambs from ewes. the ewes are milked in the morning, and available. Mixed grass–legume pastures then the ewes are returned to their lambs are preferable as lactating ewes require Day-1 system for the day. Lambs adapt quickly to this diets with 16–18% crude protein and In this system, lambs are removed from system, and lamb growth is reduced only 25–35% neutral detergent fiber. Dairy ewes their mother 24 to 36 hours after lambing. slightly. However, the fat content of the grazing mixed grass–legume pastures The ewes are milked twice a day and the milk collected during the nursing period is should be supplemented with grain (0.5 lambs are raised on milk replacer. All of the lower, which decreases its value for cheese to 2.0 pounds corn/day) to maximize milk milk produced is then sold. This system production. production. is the most labor-intensive and the milk One acre of improved and fertilized replacer costs will be high. A dairy sheep Nutrition pasture will normally support five ewes producer may want to transition to this Proper nutrition is very important for for the grazing season. Pastures can be system progressively, beginning with the high milk production. Dairy ewes can fenced with traditional woven wire or highest-producing ewes and increasing consume 3–4% of their body weight in with 3 to 5 strands of high-tensile electric the number of ewes yearly as knowledge dry matter per day. Ewes can be fed a fencing. Pastures will be more productive and confidence in lamb rearing grows. variety of feedstuffs, including pasture, hay, if large pastures are divided into smaller silage, and concentrates (corn, oats, barley, paddocks with portable electric fencing. Day-30 system soybean meal). A ewe’s requirements In areas where predatory animals are a In this system, ewes nurse their lambs are the greatest during the last month concern, guard dogs, donkeys, and llamas for 30 days, after which the lambs are of gestation and during lactation. Table that have been bonded to sheep often are completely weaned and the ewes are 1 presents the basic rations for a ewe commingled with the flock as a deterrent. milked twice a day. While this method is throughout the year.