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SHEEP-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 225
The milk of sheep is high in solids, so it yields about twice the amount of cheese as cow milk. Per 100 pounds (45 kg) of milk, sheep milk gives about 20 pounds (9 kg) of cheese, whereas goat milk yields 14 pounds (6.4 kg) and cow milk produces 10 pound (4.5 kg).
In Europe, sheep raisers let their lambs nurse for 30 days and then wean them and milk the ewes. You could also consider weaning lambs 2 or 3 days old and feeding them artificially which would give you a greater total yield of milk. Twice-a-day milking results in the most milk. You could also milk the ewe once a day in the morning and allow the lambs to nurse later in the day. As we have stressed throughout this book, nutrition is the key to success and is an absolute necessity for a high volume of milk.
The milk of sheep has an advantage over cows, and that advantage is that it can be frozen with no loss of quality. This means you can save the milk and use it as and when in demand.
PELTS
A pelt is the skin of a slaughtered sheep that still has wool on it. Pelts are another by-product that can bring in a nice income. Prime, #1 pelts are from lambs that have been sheared 4 to 6 weeks before slaughter. This shearing prior to slaughter provides a pelt that is perfect for use as "shearling" lining for slippers or jackets.
If you are selling your lambs through conventional markets, you can expect to be paid extra for a good "shearling" quality pelt. If you have slaughtered a lamb/s for your own use, or for cottage-industry sale, their pelts can be made into slippers and other hand-crafts and you can earn a good income from these sales..
A first quality pelt is one that has been free from the attack of ticks. The dark bumps caused by tick bites are called "cockle" in pelts and leather. If you decided to make jackets lined with wool from a tanned pelt, the outer surface can be sanded to produce a excellent suede finish. But, on the other hand, cockle defects seriously impair the softness and appearance of the leather.
If a sheep was cut or nicked during shearing, these nicks/cuts can show up in the pelt, and its value falls sharply. If you hire someone to do the shearing for you, you should tell him that you intend saving the pelts. Tell the shearer that you will give him a bonus for every nick/cut free pelt and your shearer will take greater care during the shearing process.
Skinning should also be done with care to avoid cutting the hide. Once again let the skinner know that you will give him a bonus for unblemished skins. Have the skins hanged over a railing, skin side up, so they cool quickly. A good way in which to
In Europe, sheep raisers let their lambs nurse for 30 days and then wean them and milk the ewes. You could also consider weaning lambs 2 or 3 days old and feeding them artificially which would give you a greater total yield of milk. Twice-a-day milking results in the most milk. You could also milk the ewe once a day in the morning and allow the lambs to nurse later in the day. As we have stressed throughout this book, nutrition is the key to success and is an absolute necessity for a high volume of milk.
The milk of sheep has an advantage over cows, and that advantage is that it can be frozen with no loss of quality. This means you can save the milk and use it as and when in demand.
PELTS
A pelt is the skin of a slaughtered sheep that still has wool on it. Pelts are another by-product that can bring in a nice income. Prime, #1 pelts are from lambs that have been sheared 4 to 6 weeks before slaughter. This shearing prior to slaughter provides a pelt that is perfect for use as "shearling" lining for slippers or jackets.
If you are selling your lambs through conventional markets, you can expect to be paid extra for a good "shearling" quality pelt. If you have slaughtered a lamb/s for your own use, or for cottage-industry sale, their pelts can be made into slippers and other hand-crafts and you can earn a good income from these sales..
A first quality pelt is one that has been free from the attack of ticks. The dark bumps caused by tick bites are called "cockle" in pelts and leather. If you decided to make jackets lined with wool from a tanned pelt, the outer surface can be sanded to produce a excellent suede finish. But, on the other hand, cockle defects seriously impair the softness and appearance of the leather.
If a sheep was cut or nicked during shearing, these nicks/cuts can show up in the pelt, and its value falls sharply. If you hire someone to do the shearing for you, you should tell him that you intend saving the pelts. Tell the shearer that you will give him a bonus for every nick/cut free pelt and your shearer will take greater care during the shearing process.
Skinning should also be done with care to avoid cutting the hide. Once again let the skinner know that you will give him a bonus for unblemished skins. Have the skins hanged over a railing, skin side up, so they cool quickly. A good way in which to