About our Milk

Our sheepmilk is produced with meticulous attention to cleanliness and somatic cell count, as well as with respect for the environment and the well-being of our animals. WSDC is unique within North America in that all farms are Grade A and the coop is IMS certified.

Member farms milk between 100 to 400 sheep seasonally, between January and October. Although seasonal at this time, plans are underway for year around production and availability. During the spring and summer, the ewes on our member's farms have access to the best pastures and forage.

The WSDC is committed to natural and sustainable farms leading to production of the highest quality sheep milk available. We at WSDC believe this milk is ideal for development of new artisinal products as well as the enhancement of existing products.

Sheep Milk

For thousand of years, sheep and goat milk has been the staple of life in many areas of the world. Sheep were certainly the first animals to be domesticated by humans in their effort at a sedentary and agricultural way of life. Eventually, the conservation of milk by its transformation into cheese was discovered and the best cheeses of the world were developed.

Although cows have replaced sheep as dairy animals because of their higher production potential, sheep dairying remains a strong and viable enterprise. Nowadays sheep dairy products (cheese, yogurt, ice cream) are particularly in demand because of their rich flavor and their exceptional nutritive value. Anyone who has tasted the famous Roquefort, the hard Pecorino Romano, the softer Pecorino Sardo, the melting Manchego, the tender Ossau-Iraty or the salty Feta, wants to have more than just a taste. In addition, for the master cheese maker, sheep's milk is a dream come true because of its composition and its cheese making properties.

Fluid Milk

The incredibly rich, flavorful milk produced by our members is the start for what many consider to be the finest cheeses and yogurts in the world.

Sheep milk from our farms has been efficiently shipped on fluid routes since 2001. At this time, WSDC is able to ship fluid milk to plant destinations throughout Wisconsin and parts of Minnesota .

Current customers prefer the convenience of fluid milk as it ships in very significant quantities and requires no specialized equipment at the plant. At present, fluid milk is available for shipment from early February through September due to the seasonal nature of sheep dairies.

Quality standards for WSDC milk are very stringent, with each farm's shipment tested for components, SCC and inhibitors. Feeds that can provide “off” tastes in the milk have been prohibited. The quality of our milk may be best shown by noting that it was the milk responsible for the “Best in Show” award at the 2004 American Cheese Society awards.

Frozen Milk

Upon request of more distant customers, WSDC member farms also have the ability to freeze milk. Sheep milk has an advantage over cow or goat milk in that the freezing process does not damage the structure of the milk or affect the cheese making qualities. Frozen milk is currently being used at dairy plants nationwide with impressive results.

Milk is frozen fresh (with bulk tank storage time limited to 48 hours) in 40 lb food grade bags. It is then palletized and ships with nominal weights of 2000 lbs per pallet. Component, SCC and inhibitor test results are provided to the customer for each pallet of milk.

We at WSDC have developed exacting standards in milk freezing and handling to ensure the best quality frozen milk is available to our customers.

Although handling of frozen milk is more labor intensive at the plant, it provides a great deal of flexibility in storage and batch size that fluid milk cannot provide. Alternative packaging of frozen milk is available to customers upon request.

Purchasing Milk

WSDC provides a great deal of convenience to customers as we are a licensed dairy plant and handle all inspections and licensing of member farms. All purchases are dairy plant to dairy plant only.

Minimum quantities of frozen milk shipped are one pallet or nominally 2000 lbs. Fluid milk ships in quantities as low as 5000 lbs with a maximum currently in the 15-20,000 lb range with growth expected.

Availability of milk is good but limited by production restraints on member farms and increasing demand from current customers.

Fresh or frozen milk samples for developmental trials are available at no cost.

Product pricing is currently determined by volume and contract duration. WSDC frozen milk is very competitively priced for nationwide delivery.

Milk Sales Inquiries

If you are interested in purchasing sheep milk from the WSDC, please contact Yves Berger - WSDC Vice President. Milk is currently only available for sale to cheese plants in 2000 lb minimum quantities.

Email inquiry to sales@sheepmilk.biz or call: 715-635-3735

 

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