A2O-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 3, 2003 Shropshires Perform Double Duty On Menhennett Farm Farm’s Cheese Will Be Sold At Maryland Sheep, Wool Festival MICHELLE KUNJAPPU should go into the milking string, Lancaster Farming Staff Menhennett said. COCHRANVILLE (Chester The breed is “noted for longev co.) Each morning Annette ity, so a good Shropshire ewe can Menhennett lines up about 12 go on producing lambs up to age Shropshire ewes and coaxes 12,” she said. As for milking, them, six at a time, through a “1180 has milked 3-4 years, and I small door and into a parlor hope to continue milking her an where they nuzzle in and eat other four years,” she said, their ration of grain. Additionally, while ewes of Although Shropshire sheep other breeds lactate 60-90 days, a may not be noted for their milk- Shropshire ewe’s lactation may Annette Menhennett operates a 110-head Shropshire market lamb and cheese farm. She has attended the Mar yland Sheep and Wool Festival since the 1970 s and sells all the farm’s cheese at the event. producing ability, Menhennett has milked several of her 110-head flock to pro duce the farm’s cheese since 1990. Most of the farm’s income stems from the sale of the lambs at market; however, making cheese has proven to be an enjoy able sideline for Men hennett and farm manager Lee Cook. Besides managing the farm, Cook also produces the farm’s cheese. The 90-acre farm is home to more than 100 purebred register ed Shropshires. The breed, according to Cook, is “an old, stan dard general-purpose market sheep that make good lambs and good mothers,” he said. The ewes produce 2'A gallons of milk in the twice-a-day milk ings, and all of the milk goes to cheese production. In the beginning of lactation, Menhennet’s best ewes will give 40 ounces of milk in the morning and 25-30 ounces of milk in the evening. Later in lac tation those ewes may give between 40-50 ounces for the day. “We don’t start milking until the lambs are weaned, so we wait 30 days,” Cook said. ~ Menhennet begins milking the goats about March 1 and usually ends the fourth of July, a real “Independence Day,” for her, she said. “When we resume milking in February, if they (the ewes) have had a lamb that’s 30 days old, we’ll take jhpr . aqd check her udder” to dceideif she f I I POWER STROKE FUEL INJECTORS “HEUI Injection System” Ford 7.3 L Trucks * IH DT-466 * T-444E * Caterpillar Miller Diesel, Inc. Offers Complete Service, Rebuilding & Exchange POWER STROKE INJECTORS ■0 On Site Rebuilding <v> Exchange in Stock <o* Testing & Calibration On Vehicle Diagnosis Removal & Installation ❖ Excellent Pricing - $$ Save $$ O Quick Turn Around Time O Free Pick up & Delivery (ioo Mile Radius Hbg.) OR Daily UPS JLM MILLER DIESEL, INC. Ifftn FUEL INJECTION A TURBO SPECIALIST 6030 JONESTOWN ROAD, HARRISBURG, PA 17112 . IN C. (717)545-5931 1-800-296-5931 EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & KNOWLEDGE SINCE 1957 last five months. Although Menhennet views the dairy/cheesemaking aspect of the farm as a sideline, she does keep an eye on the dairy traits of her animals. “I’m breeding for a fast-grow ing, well-muscled market lamb,” said Menhennett. However “if 1180 (one of the best milk pro ducers) has a ewe lamb, we’ll try to keep the lamb and she if she is like her mother,” she said. Lambing season is the end of January through April. Beginning Of A Dairy Menhennett and her husband, Warn, had purchased their farm in 1965, bought five sheep in 1967, and constructed the out buildings and bams on the opera tion. In 1989 she toured, along with a small groups of sheep aficiona dos, several sheep operations in various countries. The trip in cluded a stop at sheep dairies in Norway and Iceland. The seed was planted when Menhennet sat through a short course on sheep dairying in Scot land, which helped point her to ward dairying. “That’s what intrigued me,” she W said. ’ When she came back from the tour, then, she was ready to begin dairy ing in 1990, where she The breed is “noted for longevity, so a good Shropshire ewe can go on producing lambs up to age 12,” Menhen nett said. milked the sheep and made Cook. With the higher butterfat cheese “in a very small way I and milk solid percentages in the first made cheese in the kitchen.” milk, “we get about twice as The couple built the parlor in mU ch cheese per gallon,” than 1992. “If, very rich milk,” mid (Turn to Pa" *2l) CONSTRU ■ Poured Solid Ct ■The Wall is only • Manure PltWal • Hog House Wat • Chicken House • Concrete Deck! • House Foundat • Cistern Walls • Barnyard Walls • Concrete PitToi • Silage Pit Walk • Retaining Walk All sizes available - round or rectangular Babnerßrom . CONCRETE WORK, INC. 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