The Canterbury Sheep Milk Association (CSMA) has been established to  provide support, information, mentorship and assistance to farmers and processors who are already involved in the industry or are looking to get involved in this exciting opportunity.

The CSMA is run on a not for profit basis with Committee Members donating their time, expertise and resources to support the expansion and diversification of the industry.

The Sheep milking industry in Canterbury has been steadily growing with a focus developing sustainable practices that minimise the impact on the environment and maximise the quality of the milk produced by healthy ewes. 

Over the last five years the number of sheep milk producers has grown in Canterbury, being encouraged and supported by the establishment of a Cooperative in North Canterbury and a commercial company in Selwyn.

The Canterbury landscape has a strong history of supporting peak sheep flock performance for the meat and wool industries.

Healthy milking sheep require the same inputs as commercial flocks so this history combined with the establishment of irrigation schemes and relatively stable climatic conditions lends itself to support the  development of  protein rich pastures and robust sheep breeds that will produce a fat lamb and milk with a high total solid percentage for the South Island.

Sheep milking is a long-term investment but can be a viable option for farm diversification, succession and to add value and additional employment opportunities for new and existing operations.