Dairy Sheep Symposium - the Department of Animal Sciences ...

A favorite observation in the business world is that nothing happens until something is sold.
In sheep dairying, this means that you can produce all the wonderful milk and or cheese you
want, but you need to do some legwork in advance to know who is buying it.
Some approach this from a farmstead perspective and do quite well with it. That is, they use the
milk they produce to manufacture products of their design and choosing, and then market and
sell those products. We do not feel that we have the energy or time to gain the expertise or take
the risk with our family to try this approach. We also simply do not have the interest in being a
“lone ranger.”
We have been members of the Wisconsin Sheep Dairy Cooperative (WSDC), a producer
owned and controlled sheep products marketing cooperative, since its formation in 1996. After
some ups and downs in the first few years, the co-op is now growing to be a major source of
quality sheep’s milk in this country and is in the process of developing other value added products.
Through the committed, diligent efforts of co-op members, and particularly the board of
directors, our market for milk has stabilized and grown, our milk price has increased, and we are
able to focus on managing our farm, knowing that the milk we produce is sold through an organization
which we (and the other members) own. A big advantage is that sheep’s milk is not a
commodity for which huge conglomerates and government forces set the price. The buyers and
sellers simply negotiate a price much like many small-scale, specialized products. This gives us
a degree of control that most farmers do not have.
WSDC is a known entity in the North American sheep dairy industry and regularly receives
inquiries for the purchase of milk. In 2001, WSDC could have sold almost double its production
capacity, and the indications are for continued growth. We are very happy with the results we
have seen from our cooperative, and eagerly anticipate future developments. Consistent, reliable
markets will accelerate the realization of this industry, which holds so much promise for the
future of the small family farm in the upper Midwest.
WSDC also finds itself in the position of creating and beginning to establish standards,
policies, and procedures for its members to achieve the consistently high quality that customers
require, to assure that producers comply with governmental regulations, and to offer cheese
makers and marketers convenient access to our product. Much of this work is likely to feed into
industry-accepted standards.
Conclusion
We believe that sheep dairying is one of the very few options available to actually make
money “doing sheep.” We have committed ourselves to the development of this industry and
believe that it holds much promise for the midwestern style family farm, sustainable farming,
and the health of rural communities. We believe that the market for sheep’s milk products is just
beginning to show its potential. With over 90% of sheep milk products still being imported, we
feel there is nowhere to go but up. If we work together toward the shared goal of a viable,
successful North American sheep dairy industry, it will happen.