Meet our sheep

History

Lawrence Alderson developed the British Milksheep to meet the rising demand for a high-performance crossing sire. This initiative started in the early 1960s, initially in Wiltshire and later in Northumberland. By 1980, the breed was well-established, thanks to exceptional foundation animals whose milk yield matched their prolificacy. From that point on, the breed attracted the attention of other flock masters aiming to boost their flocks' productivity.

The Purpose of the Breed

The British Milksheep was developed to provide a superior crossing sire, producing high-performance crossbred daughters. These daughters achieve high lambing yields (200+%) and have a good milk yield to support their lambs, including triplets. Additionally, the purebred British Milksheep ewe, although not originally developed for this purpose, is used as a dairying ewe. These robust ewes yield between 150 to 400+ litres per lactation, with an average of 250 litres over a 180-200 day lactation period and six lactations per ewe.

Prolificacy, Milk Yield, and Characteristics

The British Milksheep breed is known for its impressive reproductive performance. Mature ewes have an average crop rate of 307%, shearling ewes 263%, and ewe lambs 221%. They are renowned for their ease of lambing, with lambs that are vigorous and active at birth. Triplet litters typically weigh between 4 to 5 kg per lamb, while twins weigh between 5 to 6 kg per lamb. The ewes are very attentive mothers.

This breed is robust and active, capable of wintering outside in harsh weather conditions, except during lambing. They are well-established in Canada and Hungary.

The British Milksheep is also easy to handle and calm. They are known for their quiet temperament and strong maternal instincts, which make them easy to manage and a pleasure to work with.

The wool of the British Milksheep is known for its medium staple length, which provides a balance between softness and durability. The fleece typically weighs around 4 kg for ewes and over 6.5 kg for rams. The wool has a staple length of 12 to 18 cm and a spinning count of 50’s to 54’s. This makes it suitable for a variety of textile applications, from knitting to weaving.

our team

George Wood

Wallis Ranatunga

George Wood

George began his journey with Milksheep back in 1989. As the leading Milksheep breeder in the UK, he has devoted his life to preserving and promoting the breed both nationally and internationally. George's expertise in Milksheep is unparalleled, and his efforts have been crucial in keeping the breed thriving.

Sara Wood

Wallis Ranatunga

George Wood

Sara grew up with Milksheep and has dedicated her life to their care. As an expert in breeding standards and genetics, she ensures the breed stays healthy and productive. If you have any questions about available stock or flock health, Sara is the person to ask.

Wallis Ranatunga

Wallis, a relatively new keeper of British Milksheep in Shropshire, is passionate about the breed and aims to inspire more smallholders to keep them. She handles marketing and communications for the Society. Don't hesitate to contact her with any ideas to promote Milksheep, including events, talks, and other activities.

Meet our sheep

History

The Purpose of the Breed

Prolificacy, Milk Yield, and Characteristics

our team

George Wood

Wallis Ranatunga

George Wood

Sara Wood

Wallis Ranatunga

George Wood

Wallis Ranatunga

Wallis Ranatunga

Wallis Ranatunga

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