Milking Sheep Production

Ewes in sheep milk production systems can also rear their lambs. However, there are variations in the length of time before the lambs are weaned. One of the more common production practices is to wean the lambs after three days and to rear them on milk replacer and creep feed. In this situation, ewes would probably be milked twice a day. Another practice would allow the lambs to nurse for 30 days. The ewes would be milked only once a day during this period. The normal length of lactation is 100 days. The average number of lambings is 1.5 per year in milking sheep flocks. Nutrition for the ewe is very important. Intensive grazing can provide most of the ewes' energy and protein requirements. It may be necessary to feed between two and three pounds of shelled corn or comparable energy grain to maintain production and body condition. During the winter months, good quality, mixed hay should be fed along with two to three pounds of a 16 to 18 percent protein concentrate. Dry ewes can be maintained on pasture alone. Ewes may require additional supplemental feed during the final four weeks before lambing, especially when fed hay. To maximize milk production and increase the lambing rate, ewes are bred so they are dry for short periods. Thus, they must be on a good nutrition program with emphasis on body condition. Setting up a milking sheep operation is fairly inexpensive when existing housing facilities are available. The milking parlor should be constructed with platforms so the ewes can be milked from behind. Sheep require a special milking machine that consists of a vacuum system, a pulsation system, cluster assemblies, and a system for the transportation, release, and storage of milk.