East Friesian Sheep

My next sheep breed in the series is East Friesians. The East Friesian sheep is a docile breed and can adapt to their surroundings, however they do not adapt well to a hot climate.

They are primarily a milk sheep and are said to be the best breed of milk sheep in the world. The milk is creamy and rich and has double the vitamin and protein content of cow and goat milk.

East Friesians were developed in the Friesland area of Germany and Holland as was the Holstein cow. They are efficient lambers and good mothers, you can expect over 200% lambing from mature ewes.

They have been cross bred with meat sheep to create a dual purpose sheep as well as bred for milk ewes. They are a large framed but lean sheep, an average ewe weighing around 90kg.

They have a white wool and their head and legs are clear of wool. They have a long, thin tail that is free of wool.

As well as being considered the best milk sheep in the world they are also considered the most fertile breed in the world which is why they are popular for cross breeding, especially in the dairy industry.

Originally these sheep were kept in small groups for household milk. They are not very hardy an do not do well in large groups or in harsh weather conditions.

Feel free to comment and let me know about your experience with East Friesians or any questions about them that you have. Also let me know which sheep breeds to cover next!