East Friesian Sheep – Quick Facts, Behavior, and Care Guide

East Friesians are dairy cows that hail from East Frisia, northern Germany. This is why their name. They are known for making milk and are considered to be some of the finest dairy sheep. Each ewe gives birth to approximately 500-700kg of milk. Their milk has a 6-7% milk fat level, which is the highest of all sheep breeds.

These sheep aren’t very adaptable. They are not suited for industrial environments or hot climates. They are rarely used outside of the region they were born. They are often bred with native sheep to increase their milk yield.

Here are some quick facts about the East Friesian Sheep

Species Name:	Ovis aries
Family:	Bovidae
Care Level	High
Temperament:	Docile
Color:	White
Lifespan:	10- 12 years
Size:	150 to 200 Pounds
Diet:	Mainly grass

East Friesian Sheep Overview

This breed is a hybrid of the Friesland region, in northern Germany and Holland. Its primary purpose, however, is to produce milk. This sheep is the most prolific in milk production. It can produce between 300 and 600 liters of milk per lat. Individual animals can produce more than 900 liters of dairy milk.

The sheep must also be fed a high-quality diet in order to produce such high-quality milk. Their care requirements are higher than those of other sheep breeds.

They are not very adaptable to hotter climates so it is sometimes necessary to cross them in hotter regions with other breeds. They have been successful in Wisconsin by crossing with the Lacaune Breed.

Although they are an older breed, this breed wasn’t first imported to North America in the 1990s. The sheep have gained popularity since then. They are often used in a hybrid form because of the climate.

What Does East Friesian Sheep Cost to Own?

These sheep can be quite expensive. These sheep can be quite expensive, often costing up to $1,000 per head. The average price is around $800. Their rarity and high milk production capabilities are the main reasons for this. Due to their high milk production, there is high demand for this breed. This drives up the price.

Due to their inability to adapt to new environments, many people don’t breed Friesian sheep. They often crossbreed them with a native breed to improve their ability to adapt to new environments. This is why it can be difficult to find purebred sheep.

The majority of North American purebred Friesian sheep are related. You may have to import genetics if you want to breed Friesian sheep. This can be very expensive.

The Typical Behavior and Temperament

They are known for being docile and are priced in dairy ewes. They are not suited for large, dense flocks. They are better suited for home production which typically requires only one or two sheep. They are not suitable for use in large industrial farms.

Although these sheep are easy to handle, they require close contact with people. As with all animals, it’s important to take care of the babies from the beginning. Otherwise, they might not be as gentle as you would like.

These sheep are more like dogs than sheep, according to most people. They don’t attack and rarely chase or kick their owners. They love to cuddle and have been reported to be able to teach their owners tricks.

Appearance and Varieties

There are many types of these sheep, many not being registered and some are very wide-ranging. Many farmers have their own native ewes artificially inseminated using Friesian sheep sperm. These babies are often not registered and therefore remain largely unknown.

The hybrid varieties may vary greatly. While some hybrids look very similar to purebred Friesian sheep, others are not.

The purebred Friesian sheep is the same as any other breed, however. They have pink noses. They don’t grow wool on their legs or heads, and they are polled by both genders. This is a good thing for dairy sheep as they don’t have horns. Although they often have paler hooves than others, some variations are possible.

Their tail is the most distinguishing feature. Their tail is quite thin and free from wool, giving it the appearance of being a rat-tail.

They produce white wool with a thickness of 35-37 microns and a length of 120-160mm. They typically produce between 8 and 11 pounds of fleece.

These sheep are almost all white. Although there is very little variation in color, there are still some dark brown sheep.

How to Care for East Friesian Sheep

Because they require a high-quality diet, these sheep need to be taken care of at a high level. They are also easy to care for. The most difficult time for ewes is when they have lambs. The babies are often raised in small numbers and with multiple mothers. They aren’t particularly good mothers. The mother must be kept away from her babies and lambing pens are essential to prevent this. They should be kept together until the lambs are able to keep up.

When it comes to raising lambs, they tend to be a collective mentality. It can be difficult to determine which lambs belong to whom and who can roam during birth.

They also face everyday problems. Because they spend their day grazing, they are more susceptible to parasites. They will need to be wormed to check for parasites in their area, as they would with all other sheep breeds.

The feet of Friesian sheep can be more difficult to manage. It is easier to care for them as you will only have a handful of ewes and not a large flock.

In most cases, they will need to have their feet picked like a horse and sheared once a year. They will not be friendly if they aren’t used to the grooming. Their wool is suitable for natural spinning because it is greasy.

They will shed a lot of their wool which makes it easier to shear them, if necessary. These sheep are bred for their milk. Some people would prefer them to shed all their wool so that they don’t have to be shared.

Are East Friesian Sheep able to get along with other pets?

These sheep are very docile and can get along well with other pets. They don’t tend to be territorial or aggressive and will not try to jump on smaller pets or other small animals. Their calm nature can make defense difficult. They are also defenseless because they lack horns.

It is important to keep predatory animals, like dogs not designed for herd guarding, away from the sheep. Due to their aggressive nature, other livestock could also be harmful, such as other sheep breeds.

This breed is better when it is alone than with other docile breeds. They are not able to defend themselves against the fighting that can often take place in other breeds.

How to feed your East Friesian Sheep

They are natural grazers just like all other sheep. They are not usually required to consume a lot of commercial feed. Their diet will consist mainly of grass. Sometimes, they may need to be fed with other feeds. This is especially true in winter when there may not be enough grazing and the sheep are lambing.

Hay is the most popular supplemental food. However, there are other options. Common supplemental foods include silage, concentrates, and arable byproducts. These sheep aren’t very picky so it all depends on what you have.

Because they produce milk, these sheep need to eat more than the average sheep. They will not produce enough milk if they don’t eat enough. Some sheep can produce as much as 1,000 liters if they are fed properly. With the right diet, some sheep can even produce 10% milk fat.

How to Keep Your East Friesian Sheep Happy

These sheep can have the same health issues as other sheep. They are more sensitive to common issues, so their care is very high. They are not a very hardy breed.

Similar to horses, they will require their feet to be taken care of. This will not take too long because most people don’t have large flocks. They are generally very friendly and don’t mind having their feet pampered. This requires that the sheep be taught from a young age how to feel their feet.

Although they aren’t usually susceptible to parasites, you will need to worm them. It all depends on the area you live in and what is most likely to cause the most harm to the ewes.

Breeding

Although many are artificially inseminated they can also be bred the traditional way. They can live for 147 days or about five months. You can have lambs from January through May.

This breed is very popular with multiples. These lambs are smaller than other breeds and can be more difficult to care for. You should have shelter available.

You should keep them in a pen until they are able to keep up with their mother.

Each ewe has a 15-20 square foot area available to her and her lambs. The floor should be porous and preferably made of dirt. Avoid drafts, as they can cool young lambs.

You can milk your flock year-round if everything is in order. It is important to adjust when sheep are bred in order for them to lactate at their own times.

Are East Friesian Sheep suitable for you?

An East Friesian milk sheep is the best choice if you are looking for a dairy sheep. They are known for being the best milk producers but they do require more work than other breeds. These breeds aren’t very hardy so many farmers crossbreed them to a native breed.

It is best to have a shelter if you plan to keep purebred East Friesian lambs. Because they are not the most maternal of sheep, lambing will require extra care.