Milking Sheep?

We're in the sheep business!

Please tell me...have you ever milked sheep before? Or have you ever heard of people milking sheep?

Don't feel bad if your answer is no...up until last year sheep were not on my radar either. At least as far as using them for a dairy animal goes! But after FINALLY diving into cheesemaking, I started to learn about the wonderful attributes of sheep as a dairy animal.

First off, they supposedly have lovely tasting, creamy milk. More akin to half and half or creamer than just plain ol milk. Can you imagine? I haven't had the chance to try any yet but boy am I excited to get that deliciousness in my coffee as soon as I can!

Now, like I mentioned before, the reason sheep even crossed my radar is because of cheesemaking. I finally jumped into cheesemaking last summer ( I am too embarrassed to admit how long it took me). Ok fine I'll tell you... NINE YEARS! That's right. It took my nine years of having a milk cow before I tried making cheese. Don't get me wrong, I did make things like yogurt and ricotta and cottage cheese and even mozzarella. But NEVER a hard, pressed cheese.

So I finally tried it... and WHY OH WHY did I wait so long? It is really pretty simple. Don't be like Sari. Just make the dang cheese! Anyway, I digress. Dairy sheep. So the cool thing about dairy sheep is that pound for pound they have a way higher cheese yield than cows and goats! This is what convinced me to seek out some of these little critters. I had not heard of ANYONE having dairy sheep around me. But after a little research, I was shocked to find others not to far away! And not long after my research, I brought home my first little flock.

Friends – say hello to the start of my sheep flock! The big guy in front is Massey, a registered Finn ram. Hiding behind him is Teetsie, a registered Finn ewe. The two white ones are Finn / East Friesan crosses. The ewes are not currently bred but hopefully they will come into heat soon and we will be in the sheep milking business by mid summer!

I made a quick video of the sheep and talk a little bit about what our plans are if you would like to check it out our YouTube channel Fulbright Farmstead. Thanks friends!