We have already commented in other articles on the importance of the sheep dairy sector in Castilla y León, but it should be noted that Spain is the largest sheep milk producer in Europe.
Currently, about 60% of the sheep producing milk and 75% of the milk production is concentrated in 5 Spanish provinces, 3 of them in Castilla y León. This situation of concentration, which is also increasing, is due to the closure of traditional farms and the opening of more modern, more productive and more professional farms.
In Spain there are about 4,500 sheep milk producing farms, of which about 3,000 are concentrated in these 5 provinces. According to estimates, these will produce some 360 million liters of the 480 million liters calculated for Spain.
The 5 provinces we are talking about are:
ZAMORA: It is the leading Spanish sheep province, with approximately 365,000 sheep registered as milk producers. It has 800 farms with a milk production of about 90 million liters. It should also be noted that the census over the last few years has been stable. Each ewe produces about 250 liters per year, with each farm having an average of 460 ewes, the average annual delivery is about 115,000 liters of milk per year.
CIUDAD REAL: This is the province with the greatest increase in the number of farms in recent years. In this case, each ewe produces about 170 liters per year, somewhat less than Zamoran ewes, although the average number of ewes per farm is somewhat higher, with about 570 ewes per farm, which translates into about 105,000 liters of milk per year.
VALLADOLID: It has about 265,000 sheep registered as milk producers and about 580 farms, with an average of 470 ewes. These produce about 290 liters per year each. This translates into about 185,000 liters per farm per year.
ALBACETE: It has 180,000 milking ewes and 285 farms throughout the province. The number of ewes per farm is slightly higher, with 615 ewes per farm, which translates into an average milk production of 95,000 liters.
LEÓN: It has 178,000 milk sheep distributed in 375 farms. Each has an average of 480 animals. Each one produces about 235 liters per year which translates into about 112,ooo liters per farm per year.
PALENCIA: It has a milking census of 152,000 ewes spread over a total of 310 farms, with an average of 103,000 liters per farm and 216 liters per ewe/year.
Source: Oviespaña
