Industry: Sheep Milking
Number of growers |
1 |
Number employed |
2-3 |
Current annual production |
38,000 litres
560 lambs |
1. Description of Product:
Milk from sheep for cheese making and other value added products.
Young lambs (6 weeks) - slaughtered for niche meat markets.
- live for handrearing animal nurseries etc
- to crosswean with flock
2. Location of the Industry:
Byawatha near Wangaratta.
3. Employment and Labour Requirements
a. Number of Producers
1 only in region
b. Number Regularly Employed
2-3 full time.
c. Harvest Requirements
Extra assistance is required at shearing.
4. Annual Production :
MILK: * Each sheep milks for 100 days and produces 900 ml/day.
140 sheep handled at one time over a 9-10 month period.
* Total milk production = 37,800 litres
* Value added production as needed.
LAMBS: * 20 lambs per week are produced for 6-7 months.
* Total lambs produced = 560
5. Production Trends Over the Next Five Years:
a. Projected:
If markets can be established there is good potential for the industry to develop. Projections for next 5 years are strongly influenced by market opportunities and strength of existing market demand.
b. Potential
1. There is a domestic market demand for sheep milk cheeses, and other products springing from multicultural consumer and the spreading impact on Australian food tastes.
2. There is an overseas market available now. If Australia does not optimise opportunities, New Zealand or others will.
3. There is a local specialty cheese processor.
4. Increasingly the beneficial effects of sheep’s milk (compared to cows milk) are becoming more widely known.
5. There is potential in the industry based on the tourism partnership. People are curious about the industry.
Extracted from the Bright Report
