How much land and what type of facilities are needed?
Sheep dairy farms can operate in many different ways. Some WSDC members operate larger farms, growing all or most of their own feed. Others operate on smaller farms, purchasing most feed. Nearly all members use grazing of grass or improved legume pastures as a primary feed source in the summer months. Depending on soil fertility, a viable number of dairy ewes could graze on fairly small farms. Some current farms graze up to 10 ewes per acre or more on a rotational basis. Other farms graze fewer animals per acre on larger untillable pastures. Minimum facilities include a building to house a parlor and milkhouse. A commercial walk-in freezer is also required. Some sheep dairies use warm weather lambing and very seasonal milking to reduce the number of indoor facilities required for the operation. Others practice cold weather lambing and extended season milking which will greatly increase the number and size of buildings required.
