Sheep milking? A milk alternative that's good for you and the environment: The New Zealand story Sheep milking is a growing industry in New Zealand with a 50 percent increase in sheep milk producers between 2019 and 2021. Cited as sustainable and good for the environment, farmers and scientists see sheep dairy farming as a solution to reducing nitrogen (N) leaching and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. At the same time, sheep milk has a unique compositional and nutritional profile that makes it an ideal food source for infants, women, athletes, and older people who would benefit from higher absorption of important nutrients like amino acids. And, when produced by a pasture-based country like New Zealand, this natural and wholesome product can be sold for a premium. Diversification could impact of dairy
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Clean and green, quality farming systems, being environmentally friendly and profitable and innovation are all the things that enable New Zealand products to fetch a premium worldwide. Whilst sheep milk provides an opportunity for diversification, New Zealand is taking a very pragmatic approach – using research to endorse the sustainable reputation of New Zealand sheep milk products in international markets. The industry is working hard to improve efficiencies, reduce costs and focus on sustainability, namely soil and water integrity, product traceability, nutrient-dense pastures, and increased output. NZ Crown Research Institute, AgResearch, has been heavily involved with Sheep Milk NZ to determine the environmental footprint of sheep dairying with a specific focus on N leaching and GHG emissions. N Leaching is the loss of nitrate as water drains through the soil profile, moving out of the range of plant rooting systems. It is recognised worldwide as an environmental and economic concern. In New Zealand, agricultural systems have been identified as a significant contaminant source to underlying groundwater and surface water bodies. Nitrogen can also be lost via gaseous admissions (e.g. nitrous oxide) to the atmosphere. Studies in 2017 and 2018 looked at N leaching on farms near Taupo in the North Island and Telford in the South Island. There was 50 percent more pasture growth and N cycling in the sheep treatment compared to cow farms. They attributed this to less compaction of the soil and more even spread of urine. Urinary N extraction (kg/ha) was 50 percent less for sheep than cows too. The studies also showed differences in the N leaching rate between low and high rainfall years and soil type. Light pumice soils had higher rates of N leaching than heavier clay soils. AgResearch has stressed that these were preliminary findings, and that further testing was needed.
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Goat & Sheep Milk NZ - Issue 3 | September 2021
“We milk 600 ewes in just 1 hour with this shed.“ Rhys Darby - WAIKATO 42 a-side dairy sheep Rapid Exit Swing-Over Parlour. Converting an obsolete herringbone 36 a-side shed back in June 2020, Rhys and the Darby family have added another string to their bow, with significantly less capital outlay – hoping to pay back their new install in just 3 years. Having built 2 dairy cow sheds with GEA in the past, Rhys says “GEA equipment isn’t the cheapest stuff around, but at least we know it lasts and works really well, with what we want”. Rhys enjoys the quickest and most efficient way of milking sheep, incorporating in-shed feeding and TopFlow S clusters for ultimate cluster alignment and a quick milking-out process. Each milking row is in, and then out in just 5 minutes - with it just taking 30 seconds to exit the stall, thanks to our Rapid Exit Stalling. Need breaking ground technology like Rhys? Call us for your free on-farm consult. 0800 GEA FARM
