OUR DAIRY SHEEP FLOCK
- NO GROWTH HORMONE USED
- NO MILK RELEASE HORMONE USED
- NO ROUTINE ANTIBIOTICS TREATMENTS
- PASTURE RAISED
- NO UREA IN FEED
- NO ANIMAL BY-PRODUCTS IN FEED
Dairy sheep are a wonderful triple purpose utility breed that can be used for its Milk, Meat and Wool but with the emphasis on Milk. Management decisions are usually made to maximize milk production which may negatively impact lamb and wool production. At the same time, lamb sales can contribute a significant amount of income. Income from wool are usually negligible in South Africa though. It is categorized as Carpet Wool and unless value is added you are better off making compost with it, using it as a mulch around fruit trees or as a natural insulation material.
Our sheep were the very first animals to arrive on Allendale and has played an active role in helping us to clear the brush and weeds. They are currently Awassi Crossbreeds procured from Elmarie van Aswegen from Smithfield in the Freestate, our long term goal being to upgrade them to Pure Bred Awassi Sheep.
The Awassi is a fat-tailed sheep that originated in the Middle East and is one of the heaviest milk producing sheep in the world, second only to the East Friesian. It is also a hardy breed, having evolved under arid and nomadic conditions, therefore ideal for our climate.