But what some farmers may not know is there’s even more value to be gained from processing sheep milk into powder. The New Zealand Government sees its potential – in June 2022 a funding boost was announced for the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures Fund, to support New Zealand’s dairy sheep sector.
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor stated that globally the premium alternative dairy category is growing by about 20% a year and the potential industry in New Zealand could be worth more than $750 million in annual export receipts by 2035.
The reason behind sheep milk powder’s export demand is due in part to its excellent nutritional offering. It is easy to digest due to the fat and protein components and is rich in nutrients including vitamins A, B and E, potassium, magnesium, folic acid, and zinc.
Processing and drying options in New Zealand
Tetra Pak is a pioneer in food processing and packaging, and in New Zealand, it is leading the global field in sheep milk drying solutions. It employs engineers dedicated to continuing to develop knowledge and expertise on how best to process this valuable resource.
“It’s great for New Zealand to be at the forefront of this growing industry and is a smart investment due to our long history leading agricultural development.”
Tetra Pak has successfully designed and built two sheep milk processing facilities here in New Zealand, both located at Waikato Innovation Park in Hamilton.
Waikato Innovation Park CEO Stuart Gordon says the industry aims to double in size year-on-year for the next three years.
“We are seeing a steady upward trend in the demand for sheep milk exports. The value of New Zealand’s total supply of dairy sheep milk is likely to reach $60 million over the next three years,” says Gordon.
Tetra Pak’s industry partner DeLaval, which forms part of the Tetra Laval Group, is helping farmers convert their bovine dairy farms to sheep through on-farm solutions.
“We are proud to support our customers with innovative solutions for more sustainable milk production, with a high focus on animal health. It forms the core of our values at DeLaval,” says Oceania commercial manager, Chris Watkins.
DeLaval supplied the sheep milking solutions for the newly established Parininihi ki Waitōtara (PKW) Miraka Hipi (sheep dairying) hub in South Taranaki. The operation will produce nearly 500,000 litres of sheep milk annually, collected by Spring Sheep Milk Co. and processed at the New Zealand Food Innovation Waikato evaporation and drying facility built by Tetra Pak.
“Around the world sheep milking is a billion-dollar industry. It is making dairy better [by] being gentle on the land, animals, and the milk. These sustainable options are rapidly gaining traction.” says Spring Sheep Co. CEO Nick Hammond.
Tetra Pak is well-equipped to match the growth of this industry and has the expertise to do so.
A better environmental outcome
Dairy sheep also have a lower emissions profile. Research by AgResearch shows there are lower amounts of nitrogen leaching on a sheep milking farm compared to other dairy farms.
Tetra Pak is a leader in sustainable food solutions and has been a signatory of the United Nations (UN) Global Compact since 2004, a voluntary initiative based on CEO commitments to implement universal sustainability principles and to take steps to support UN goals.
“Tetra Pak is committed to actions that help realise resilient and sustainable food systems – which is exactly why we are investing in innovative technology here in New Zealand to support the growth of sheep milk processing and drying. We want to keep up the momentum and see New Zealand lead the charge in this space,” says Waide.
For more information, visit https://www.tetrapak.com/en-anz
