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Sheep dairying in Britain — a future industry
Author(s) -
MILLS OLIVIA
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
international journal of dairy technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.061
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1471-0307
pISSN - 1364-727X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0307.1986.tb02378.x
Subject(s) - sheep milk , flock , domestic sheep reproduction , dairy industry , economic shortage , agricultural science , milk products , zoology , biology , geography , business , agricultural economics , food science , economics , ecology , government (linguistics) , linguistics , philosophy
The paper sets out the importance of dairy sheep in the economies of the Mediterranean Basin and points to the world shortage of ewe's milk, and the increasing demand for it, both as milk and as the products made from it, much of today's demand being met from cow's milk substitutes for original sheep products. The dairy ewe is described. Five thousand ewes, the nucleus of a new industry, are being milked in Britain today in both autumn and spring lambing flocks. Tables show the milk yields from different breeds; the composition of ewe's milk compared to that of the goat and cow; and the contribution of ewe's and cow's milk to the human daily needs of minerals and vitamins. Some of the unique qualities of ewe's milk in the making of products are discussed as well as its behaviour in the making of cheese. Its special properties in the field of food intolerances are touched on. The sheep is suggested as an alternative dairy animal.