Even the Rams do their part!
With the arrival of April, a new milking season begins.
But what does that actually mean?
Sheep only produce milk after giving birth to a lamb, in order to nurse and raise it. This is the true and only reason behind milk production!
As already explained in our article “The Magic of Milk and Cheese” (link), in order to milk our sheep at the end of 2025 and use their milk for cheesemaking, it’s essential to properly plan the birth of the lambs.
About five months before the lambs are born, a ewe must meet a ram—”a male”—to become pregnant. Sounds simple, but it’s not!
A ewe’s heat cycle, which occurs approximately every 21 days, and thus her potential for fertilization, requires ideal conditions: rich, nutritious pastures and mild temperatures—not too hot, not too cold.
In short, it’s like a puzzle in which every piece must fit perfectly to complete the final picture.
The shepherd plays a key role in supporting this process, using various techniques to synchronize the ewes’ heat cycles and concentrate births into a single period.
Why is synchronizing births important?
As explained in previous articles, at Podere Il Casale we deeply respect nature and animal welfare.
We allow the mother to nurse her lamb for at least one month before beginning the weaning process and then using the milk for our cheesemaking.
If the flock weren’t well synchronized, the births would be spread over several months, and as a result, so would the milking—complicating the entire process.
How do we naturally synchronize heat cycles?
In modern farms, hormones or artificial insemination are often used. We, however, take a different path.
Practicing organic and biodynamic agriculture, we believe nature is perfect as it is, and our role is to collaborate with it—not to force it.
By naturally supporting our sheep without invasive interventions, we reduce their stress, improve their well-being, and produce higher-quality milk.
The ewes’ heat cycles do not occur uniformly throughout the year but follow a seasonal rhythm. As mentioned, pasture plays a key role: spring pasture is the most favorable and also produces the best milk of the year.
After the first heat, cycles repeat every three weeks, as long as environmental conditions remain favorable and the ewe has not become pregnant.
The shepherd can support this process by providing natural supplements rich in essential vitamins. We use a mix of wheat germ oil, corn, flaxseed, and cod liver oil—rich in vitamins A and D and important antioxidants.
Another important factor is proper nutrition management: a ewe must not be too fat or malnourished. It’s necessary to provide the right amount of sugars—for example, through corn—while maintaining a balanced nutritional profile.
One final consideration is the relationship between rams and ewes: during the preparatory phase, the ewes must neither see nor sense the rams, who are kept separated from the flock.
The moment of introducing the rams
When the time comes, the rams are reintroduced into the flock at a ratio of about 4–6 rams per 100 ewes, triggering what is known as the “male effect.”
The mere presence of the rams induces the ewes to go into heat, but only for a very brief window of 24 to 36 hours. It’s during this window that the rams must do their job of reproduction.
If there aren’t enough rams, the ewes’ heat cycle will fade, and you’ll have to wait for the next cycle (about 21 days), delaying the entire birth schedule.
Even if it sounds complex, all of this is part of a completely natural process.
Of course, there are small techniques to support the rams’ work—like shearing in advance or allowing rest periods to avoid excessive fatigue.
After all, this too is a form of care and respect: sheep love isn’t all that different from human love, is it?
