This is part 3 in the sheep series.
Milk is a product that most consumers use on a daily basis. We put it in our coffee, pour it over our cereal, drink flavored chocolate milk, and use it in many different recipes. It’s an ingredient that we often take for granted.
Traditionally, in order to purchase milk, we simply walk into a grocery store or convenience store and buy a gallon whenever it suits us. Factories and large trucks handle the production and distribution of milk on a large scale basis.
The milk that you usually buy in a store is refrigerated in convenient packaging whenever you need it. However, in a survival situation, it may not be as easy to come by.
Milk Option
There are many survival persons who rely on powder based milk options, such as dry milk. This is a very wise option for most people to have on hand. All you need to do is mix it with water and you have milk at your disposal. One does need to keep in mind bugs and mice to protect your investment. This also has a different taste than already made milk.
Long Term Situations
But when you’re talking about a long term survival situation, there will come a time when you run out of your dry milk stores and are unable to access more. This is when it becomes necessary to have animals on your property that can provide milk for you and your family.
Cow Milk
Nevertheless, when you think of milk, most people immediately consider cows, because that is the kind of milk we usually purchase at the store. Raising a cow can be very costly, just ask a nearby farmer. Cows take up more space than other milk producing animals.
Besides cows, many people consume other animal derived milk. These include goats, sheep, and even camels. Several of these types of milk are found at the local grocer’s to accommodate allergies. It usually depends on the region that you are in when it comes to what’s available in terms of milk products.
Sheep Milk?
Sheep are a rather easy flock to raise and keep on your property if you want to continually have access to milk and other dairy products, like cheese. If you go into any specialty grocery store, you can often find high end sheep’s milk, butter and cheese.
Sheep milk has a delicious taste and provides great nutrients that will help your family maintain good health, thanks to its high vitamin content. In fact, many prefer to drink sheep milk over cow’s milk because it is gentler on their digestive system.
Sheep Types
There are different types of sheep that are better for milking purposes than others. You can get over 1,000 pounds of milk from certain varieties. The best ones to consider for milk are the following breeds: Lacaune, Assaf, Chios, Hampshire, Awassi, Suffolk, and East Friesian.
By having a flock of sheep on your property, you can make all kinds of dairy production. Just like cow milk, you can make straight milk, cheese, butter, and even yogurt. These creamy delicacies will not only provide your family with delicious meals, but they are loaded with health benefits, too. If the time comes and you are desperate for sustenance, the sheep can also provide a good source of meat to help you feed your family.
Stay tuned to AltonMo.com for another article on sheep and using the wool for clothing.
