Our Flock

We have been slowly developing our small flock of Friesian Dairy Sheep. It should be noted that without the guidance, friendship and generosity of Christine Maguire of Rinconada Dairy (www.rinconadadairy.com), Lynn Martin, as well as Eric Smith and Pascal Destandau of Pug’s Leap Farm (www.pugsleap.com) we might still be trying to track down this genetic line. We have introduced two rams and after 5+ years and 36 lambs later we have culled our flock down to just 13 ewes. This August we introduced a young Lacaune ram to the flock in hopes of strengthening the genetic diversity and milk production of our flock. We look forward to his success.


We are members of DSANA, the Dairy Sheep Association of North America. DSANAs annual Dairy Sheep Symposium offers workshops, seminars and an established internet community all of which have proven to be an invaluable source of information and inspiration.  www.dsana.org

 

East Friesian Dairy Sheep

Breed: East Friesian

Mature Body Weight:

Ram 225-280 lb

Ewe 160-180 lb


The East Friesian originated in Northern Germany and the Province of Fiesland in the Netherlands. Imported as purebreds into the U.S. from Canada in 1994, this breed has the highest milk production of the improved dairy sheep breeds. They are a docile, large size, open white faced, polled breed with a coarse grade staple length wool. Their most distinctive physical feature is a "rat-tail", thin and free of wool. A high percentage of ewes will lamb at 12 months of age and mature ewes are highly prolific. Litter size in the East Friesian is reported as averaging 2.25 lambs with a milk yield per ewe of 500-700 kg per lactation testing 6-7% milk fat, the highest average dairy milk yield recorded for any breed of sheep.


The East Friesian is considered to be the worlds highest producing dairy sheep. They are highly specialized animals and do poorly under extensive and large flock husbandry conditions. It is perhaps no mere coincidence that the region of Friesland is also the origin of the Friesian cattle breed, including the Holstein which has the highest milk yield of any breed of livestock. Friesian cattle and East Friesian sheep are alike in other important regards. Neither fares well in harsh hot environments but both have produced excellent crossbreds with adapted local breeds.



Resources:

Breed definition as defined by the American Diary Sheep Association


Additional information by Wesley Combs, Canada, Consultant in International Livestock Development