Milking sheep is something that most people in this country find unusual or even weird. Most have never even considered it as a possibility. Many of those who have considered it have been put off by the wool and terrible reputation dairy sheep have. Or maybe you already have a flock of hair sheep and aren’t thrilled about mixing in a different breed. We’re here to tell you that you can milk your Katahdin sheep, and it is worthwhile. No wool or fragile, finicky animals necessary.
Despite being ‘weird’ in this country, milking sheep is quite common in Europe, and some kinds of cheese were traditionally made from sheep milk. Did you know that it is thought that sheep were the first animal to be milked? If you have been reading our blog for a while, then you know we milk our Katahdin sheep. After milking our flock for a couple years, we are completely sold on sheep milk. So, if you are considering adding a dairy animal to your back yard today we are going to give you 10 reasons to consider sheep.
1. Sheep milk tastes pretty similar to cows’ milk
Many people think that having a dairy animal in their backyard is unattainable because they don’t care for that distinct, ‘goaty’ flavor of goat milk. They also can’t justify keeping a cow that gives gallons of milk a day and requires a lot of expensive feed and space. Most people don’t realize there is a very viable 3rd option, sheep.
People often assume that sheep can’t be milked or that the milk tastes like goat milk because the two animals are often grouped together as ‘small ruminants’. However, this could not be any further from the truth. A fresh glass of sheep milk tastes like like a richer, creamier version of cows milk. Why? Sheep milk lacks the capric acid found in goat milk. Capric acid is what gives the ‘goaty’ flavor profile. Sheep produce mild flavored milk regardless of what they are grazing, and how the milk is handled. So, if you don’t like goat milk products and can’t justify the expense of owning a cow, sheep might be exactly what you are looking for.
2. Sheep Milk is A2/A2
In the past few years it has come to everyone’s attention that in many cases, milk casein allergies are actually to the A1 casein protein found in most cows milk. A lot more people are allergic to A1 casein than they are to A2. Many people who cannot eat A1/A2 milk can safely consume A2/A2 milk.
A2 milk encompasses milk from most species, and some breeds of cows. As it would turn out, the A1 casein protein is actually the mutated protein. Unfortunately, the breeds of cows carrying the A1 mutation are some of the most commonly used dairy breeds. A2 is the ‘normal’ casein protein. Sheep milk, is all A2 milk. If you have an A1 casein allergy you likely can safely drink sheep milk.
3. Sheep milk is the most healthy, biologically compatible milk
Sheep milk is highly nutritious! It has a much higher solids content than either goat or cow milk. More solids = more nutrients and less water. Sheep milk contains up to 2x the protein content of goat or cow milk and 36% more calcium than cow’s milk and is a better source of all 10 essential amino acids.
Additionally sheep milk is richer in healthy short and medium chain fatty acids, and contains more mono and poly unsaturated acids. Many biopeptides found in sheep milk have been shown to have antibacterial, antiviral, and anti inflammatory properties. It is a powerhouse of nutrition in an easy to digest form.
4. Easier to digest, and won’t spike blood sugar
Not only is sheep milk superior in nutrient density, but it is easier to digest than other milks. Research done in Australia has shown that sheep milk proteins are more easily digested than cows’ milk proteins. Sheep milk is often better tolerated by people with milk sensitivities. It may be better tolerated by those with lactose intolerance. The same Australian researchers also found that because sheep milk contains more good fats which are readily converted to energy, sheep milk does not spike blood triglyceride levels.
5. Anything made from cows milk can be made with sheep milk
Sheep milk is extremely versatile in the kitchen. Sheep milk makes rich creamy yogurt and velvety sauces without requiring the use of heavy cream. This allows you to achieve the same culinary experience with less fat and calories. Sheep milk also makes the most amazing low fat ice cream. Because sheep milk contains so many solids and has small globule size, it freezes into wonderfully creamy ice cream. It doesn’t get icy textured even without the addition of extra cream or evaporated milk.
6. Sheep milk is fantastic for cheese making
Not only does sheep milk make good ice cream, yogurt, and sauces, it is also a phenomenal choice for making cheeses. Unlike goat milk that has fragile curds which can be very difficult or impossible to work with, sheep milk is perfect. Any kind of soft or hard cheese made from cows’ milk can be made from sheep milk without altering the recipe. The main difference is that your yield will be 2x that of cows’ milk because sheep milk is so concentrated. If you’re a cheese maker or wish to delve into the cheese making experience we would encourage you to experiment with sheep milk. We don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
7. Sheep milk can be frozen without loss of quality
If you’ve ever tried to freeze cows’ milk you’ve probably been pretty disappointed with the chunky slop you recovered from your freezer. Not so with sheep’s milk. Sheep milk will come out of the freezer virtually the same as it went in. Frozen sheep milk is still suitable for using as you would fresh milk. Being able to freeze your milk is a boon for cheesemakers. You can stockpile milk to make huge batches or freeze your excess during the busy milking season to make cheese later when you are less busy.
8. You only have to milk half the year
Sheep only lactate for 6 to maybe 8 months of the year. Many people cite this as a reason to NOT milk sheep, and as one of the main reasons sheep are inferior to goats. However, in light of the fact that sheep milk freezes so well, we view this as a big plus to milking sheep. One of the cons of having a dairy animal is that you are committed. You must milk that animal at the same time twice a day. Every. Single. Day. No matter what. It’s a major commitment that you have to revolve your life around.
Sheep produce a lot of milk early in lactation but their milk volume tapers off fairly quickly. For this reason, we milk a lot of sheep for a short time and stockpile the milk. This leaves us free of the burden of our milking commitment the other 6-8 months of the year. Only having to commit to milking for a few months of the year can make the dream of having a dairy animal seem a lot more attainable for a busy family or someone who travels.
9. Sheep are easier to keep than goats or a cow
Cows are large and require a lot of acreage and expensive feed to keep them. That is something that most people can’t practically provide. And as you probably know, goats have quite a reputation for being menaces. As the saying goes ‘A fence that won’t hold water won’t hold a goat’. Goats can be shockingly difficult to keep where you want them, and when they get out they won’t hesitate to tap dance on your car or the neighbor’s roof. This can be a deal breaker if your neighbors aren’t thrilled about having your animals eating their shrubs.
Sheep on the other hand are small, thrifty, and typically content. As a general rule they are very easy to contain and handle. In addition to being much less motivated, they are also not nearly as athletic as goats. Thus, sheep are much less likely to wreak havoc on the neighborhood.
10. In our climate hair sheep have less problems
This is a bit of a blanket statement as there can be both good and bad sheep and goats. However, in our hot, humid, southeast climate, our hair sheep perform better than many goats. Generally speaking, our hair sheep perform better in terms of things like parasite resistance and being wet. In a hot humid climate traits like parasite resistance can make the difference between an animal that is productive and thriving…. or constantly trying to die on you. Lower maintenance, and less stress create a more positive experience for us, and that’s important, particularly for new shepherds who can easily be discouraged.
And no, you don’t have to deal with wool and shearing to milk sheep.
Many people are put off of the idea of milking sheep because they do not want to deal with wool. Nor do they want to deal with sheep that have a reputation for being very fragile. However, if you’re milking sheep to feed your family rather than running a for profit dairy you don’t have to deal with wool. Yes there are dedicated dairy breeds of sheep, and all of them produce wool. And yes, these breeds produce more milk over a longer lactation than non-dairy breeds. But all sheep including hair sheep produce milk and can be milked.
There are plenty of milky Katahdins out there who are more than capable of making enough milk for your family. While Katahdins haven’t been selected for dairy traits, they have been selected to be capable of feeding huge, fast growing twins and triplets. To do so they have to produce a large quantity of milk. The trick is simply seeking out ones that produce a lot of milk in an udder with good conformation. They are out there, and they’re not as hard to find as you might think!
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