SEASONAL MILKING

SEASONAL MILKING

Sheep naturally breed when the days start becoming shorter (After the Summer Solstice and peaking in Autumn). With sheep having a 147 day gestation period (5 months), it means that the majority of lambs are then born in the Winter (Starting after the Winter Solstice) finishing of in early Spring. Milk production peaks at aproximately 5 weeks after lambing and then gradually decreases through Summer and eventually stops when the days start to become shorter again at the start of Autumn. Which means that everything has come full circle. The average lactation length being 180 to 210 days (6-7 months). This means that milk cannot be produced year round, as is common in cow dairy operations.

WINTER

  • June: Prepare Flock for Lambing
  • July: Start Lambing
  • August: Finish Lambing & Start Two-a-Day Milking

SPRING

  • September: Wean Lambs and Vaccinate the Flock
  • October:  Shear the Flock
  • November: Harvest Lambs

SUMMER

  • December: Go to One-a-Day milking
  • January: Prepare Flock for Breeding
  • February: Join the Rams to the Ewes

AUTUMN

  • March: Dry up any Ewes remaining in milk
  • April: Shear, Dose and Vacinate the Flock
  • May: Shepherds take a Vacation!