An ewe is the female of the sheep, especially when fully mature. Ewes are ruminant mammals that are primarily raised for their milk, meat, and wool. While ewes milk represents a key foodstuff for some populations, elsewhere in the world, it is generally less common than cows milk. Ewes are mainly bred for their milk and meat, and are equally well-suited to either. Southern European Union countries are dominated by dairy ewe farms, while Oceania, South America, and other parts of Europe are home to a greater concentration of suckler ewe farms, producing lamb meat. Meat production generally comes from male lambs, each providing 8 to 15 kg of meat. New Zealand is the largest exporter of lamb, followed by Australia and South America.