Sheep make milk too!

Many people hear the word “milk” and think of cows. However, milk comes from a lot of other animals. Sheep give milk that can sometimes be even healthier than cow’s milk.

Many people choose milk from sheep or goats because they are lactose intolerant. This means that their bodies cannot process the substance called lactase in cow’s milk. Sheep milk has a much lower percent of lactase than cow’s milk. This makes it easier for people who are lactose intolerant to digest the milk.

Sheep milk is often used for making cheese. Especially in places like England, farmers are raising sheep for milk that is made into cheese and yogurt. They use a type of sheep called Frieslands. These sheep have two or three lambs at a time, so they produce a lot of milk.

Now, more sheep farmers are discovering that it can be healthy to drink, too. Some people might not drink it because it contains about 4 percent more fat than cow’s milk. Even though it is a bit fattier, sheep’s milk also has nutrients that are good for you.

Nutrients, such as calcium and phosphorus, can help your bones grow strong. Sheep milk contains about 3 percent more protein than milk from cows. Proteins are very important for building healthy muscles. Also, sheep milk contains more grams of Vitamin A and 41 more grams of Vitamin C than cow’s milk per serving.

Learn more about the science and history of sheep production