East Friesland Sheep

  • East Frisland SheepOriginally from East Friesland - has since spread throughout the world
  • Acknowledged as an independent breed in 1936
  • White milk sheep is predominant, but in recent years a variety with dark brown colour have also been developed
  • Milk sheep can bear the cold, but are sensitive to heat. In hot climates, the brown coloured are more adaptable
  • East Friesland Sheep
  • The photo shows our East Friesland sheep with their winter coats on.
  • Because of its adaptability and high milk yield, this sheep have been exported to many sheep milk producing countries like Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Turkey, Hungary, Spain, Austria, Great Britain and South America.
  • The head is polled, with a long face, long forward ears. The body is large, with excellent carcass characteristics.
  • Clean face, legs and under tail- naturally crutched
  • Most distinctive physical features is the "rat tail"-thin, long and free of wool
  • Mature weight is between 150 to 200 pounds
  • Frieslands have a very quiet temperament and are very docile. They are used to having contact with humans and like attention.
  • Highest average dairy milk yield recorded for any breed of sheep
  • Litter size is reported to average 2.25 lambs with milk yield of 500-700 kg per lactation testing 6-7% milk fat
  • Wool production is about 4.5 kg per ewe, fineness of 50/56s
  • Sheep were milked by humans 3,000 years before cows were milked.