Animals that Produce Dairy Foods | Sheep Breeds

The definition of dairy breeds is applied to all sheep breeds that are produceing milk whether it is used for human consumption or for nursing lambs. In developing countries, milk from sheep and goats is an important source of dietary protein for millions of people, mainly smallholders, landless people, nomads and peasants. In developed countries, milk from sheep is a raw material that is further processed into high-quality dairy products. Milk production is often considered a key factor in determining the feasibility of the other production systems, such as meat and wool production, because ewes that produce more milk tend to raise more lambs, which contributes to the viability of the production system. Genetically, isolated populations of indigenous sheep with distinct morphological characteristics and production performance evolved over centuries as a result of natural and induced selection in a wide range of physicogeographical habitats. Wide variation in physical appearance, production and reproduction is known to exist among dairy breeds. The potential for milk production varies considerably in relation to the genetic composition and the cumulative selection pressure previously applied. This potential is influenced by many environmental factors such as nutrition, climate, management, diseases and the socioeconomic patterns of sheep farmers.