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In 1998, the United States imported 28.3 million kg of sheep milk cheese, indicating strong consumer demand. No wonder that animal scientists in this country are beginning to take a closer look at managing herds of milking ewes.

Finding ways to increase milk production is one of the keys to profitability because sheep produce very small quantities of milk relative to cows. A study at the Spooner Agricultural Research Station found that sheep that grazed clover-grass pasture produced 13 percent more milk than ewes fed hay in a feedlot. As an added bonus, the milk of grassfed sheep is also much higher in CLA.

J. Animal Science, 78:1, Supplement 1/2000

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