DAIRY SHEEP BREEDS

All ewes that have lambed should give milk, but some breeds give more than others. Almost all ewes that have successfully reared twins or triplets in the past should have enough milk to warrant becoming dairy animals. Therefore, it can be said that a "dairy ewe" is a sheep of any breed that has the capacity to give a sustained yield of milk over and above that to rear her lambs.

The dairy ewe, like the dairy cow, must be able to milk rather than put on fat. The difference between meat and dairy sheep is identical to that between beef and dairy cows. There are extremes like the Friesland ewe and the Holstein cow, while at the opposite end of the scale is the Southdown ewe and the Hereford cow.

Dairy ewes ideally require a placid temperament. A nervous ewe will not let down her milk satisfactorily, will upset the others and will cause a lot of frayed tempers. Ewes learn a routine very quickly and provided they have no bad experiences, soon settle down to regular feeding, milking and handling.

SUITABLE EWES

The Friesland.
The only pure dairy breed in the UK. Often called the "Holstein of sheep breeds". Yields may vary from 250 to over 600 litres/lactation. High prices should only be paid for milk recorded stock. Rams are now available from 1,000 litre dams. Breed Society Secretary: Louise Barber, Weir Park Farm, Christow, Exeter, EX6 7PB. Tel: 01647 252549.

The British Milksheep.
A dual purpose breed with more viable lambs for meat. Yields are variable from 150 to 450 litres/lactation. The milk has a high solids content and is therefore particularly suitable for yogurt and cheese making. The Ewes are more prolific than the Freisland and the Ewes and Lambs more robust.

The Dorset Horn/Poll Dorset.
A very useful breed for out of season milk production and the high fat content makes it ideal for ice cream making.

The Lacaune and Assaf Sheep
These breeds are widely milked in Europe and are also available in the UK.