Dairy sheep milk measurement

Dairy Sheep Milk Measurement

DSANA (Dairy Sheep Association of North America) is trying to understand the general level of milk production within our industry, and also how many of us are measuring our ewes' production, and whether our producers would like assistance in this area. This survey has 10 questions, mostly multiple choice, and should take less than 5 minutes. There are 3 non-multiple-choice questions, which may need you to look up first: the number of ewes milked and the total milk you produced in 2019, and the average number of days your ewes milked in 2019.

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* 1. Where do you milk sheep?

US – West Coast (WA, OR, CA)

US – Intermountain (MT, WY, CO, NM, AZ, UT, ID, NV)

US – Midwest & Plains (SD, ND, NE, KS, IA, MO)

US – Great Lakes (OH, IN, MI, IL, WI, MN)

US – Northeast (WV, MD, DE, PA, NJ, NY, CT, MA, RI, VT, NH, ME)

US –Southeast (VA, NC, SC, GA, FL)

US – South Central (KY, TN, AL, MS, LA, AR, OK, TX)

US – Alaska or Hawaii

Canada – Atlantic Maritimes (NB, PEI, NL, NS)

Canada – Quebec

Canada – Ontario

Canada – Prairies (AB, SK, MB)

Canada – British Columbia

Canada – Territories (Northern Canada)

Other (please specify)

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* 2. In 2019, what was the total number of ewes you milked in the milking season? If you have year-round production, give the number of ewes you would milk if they lambed in one single season.

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* 3. What is your average number of days milking? For seasonal producers, take the average lambing date of all your ewes, and then figure to the average day you dry off. For year-round producers, give the average number of days in milk for your milking ewes, from the average date of lambing to the average date of dry-off.

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* 4. In 2019, what was your total milk production for the season? (Please include the units, i.e., pounds, gallons, liters, kilograms)

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* 5. When do you start milking your ewes?

Day 1-3 : lambs are removed in the first few days after birth, and milking starts with no lambs at side

Day 30 : lambs are kept on their dams for 30 days, then weaned, and then the ewe is milked

Mix/semi-suckling system : lambs are with the ewes for about 12 hours/day in the first month, while the ewe is still milked; lambs are weaned at 30 days, and then the ewe is milked for the remainder of the season or lactation

Other (please specify)

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* 6. Do you periodically measure individual ewe production?

Yes, using in-line flow meters

Yes, using Waikato meters

Yes, by milking into a jar/can, then weigh it on a scale

Yes, using another measurement system (please specify below)

No (if no, tell us below what stops you from collecting data on your milk production)

Other (please specify)

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* 7. If you do measure milk production of your individual ewes, how often do you do so?

Daily

Weekly

Every two weeks

Once per month

3-5 times per lactation or season

Other (please specify)

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* 8. Do you take individual milk samples on your ewes, for analysis of components and SCC?

Yes, using DHI (US) for the component analysis

Yes, using Valacta (Canada) for the component analysis

No, we don’t analyze individual ewes’ milk components

Other (please specify)

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* 9. Do you send your production data off for statistical analysis, and receive EBVs/EPDs on production and/or components?

Yes. We use DSANA’s Production Improvement Program (US)

Yes. We use Genovis (Canada)

No, we don’t receive statistical analysis of our production information

Other (please specify)

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* 10. If you don’t meter or measure production, would you be interested in receiving guidance on how to do so, and/or would you be interested in receiving genetic information on the potential milk production of your breeding stock?

Yes, I would like help in understanding how to meter or measure individual ewe’s production

Yes, I would like to have information on the genetic potential of my breeding stock

No, I am quite happy with the system I have got

Not applicable: I already meter/measure and receive information on genetic merit of my breeding stock

Other (please specify)