A few years ago, I thought it might be fun to try and use our Babydoll’s milk to make homemade soap. I am always looking for new and fun ways to bring extra purpose to our farm. Everyone always thinks only goats can be used for milking and making soap. While goats are used more often and yield more milk, the sheep industry could also benefit from this soap making ability. In fact, when originally doing my research, I learned that sheep milk contains a higher fat content, and is actually more moisturizing compared to goat’s milk. Let me start by saying I am no expert in this matter, but always willing to learn and share with others. In general, there isn’t any readily available recipe for any type of soap making. Watching YouTube videos and researching online, I was able to piece together my own recipe through trial and error. You will need to use an online soaping calculator to make sure your soap recipe is balanced appropriately. You may find that Babydolls are not abundantly “blessed” with their milk production as compared to goats or other breeds of sheep; however, they can produce a good amount of milk and support their lambs quite well, making the Babydoll perfect for the job. Only a small amount of milk is needed per soap batch. This is because the sugars in the milk can rapidly heat up the batch and alter the saponification process. Lambing out your Babydolls, you will get an idea of which dams have a higher milk yield and larger teat size making those ewes your first choice for getting milk. **In my recipe, only 1 oz of milk is used to make six, 4 oz. bars. So, a little goes a long way! I have found the best time to save milk is when you are about to wean your lambs or just starting that process. This allows you to use milk not necessary to the lamb(s) survival. It should be noted to never use colostrum and to wait well until your lamb(s) are thriving to attempt milking. Always use proper milking technique to avoid causing your ewe to become sore. There are many videos online to help develop this skill. The milk can be stored in the freezer until you are ready to make soap. You can store one ounce in a plastic freezer safe bag to make measuring easier later on. It is also a good idea to look into your state guidelines if you are wanting to sell your soap, otherwise keep it and enjoy it yourself! Always remember to have fun and give it a try!

This video looks like a good resource on How to Milk a Sheep by The Grass-fed Homestead
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ku34i-LOFUg

If you have photos of products you've made with milk from your Babydolls, please share with us. Send an e-mail.