What does sheep milk taste like?
I have a lot of people visit my farm interested in trying sheep milk. I don't blame them—I wanted to know what it tasted like too when I first became interested in dairy sheep.
The Common Misconception
Most people think it will taste similar to goat milk and have a strong flavor. The most common misconceptions I hear about sheep milk is that people think it is going to taste like goat milk or that it will taste "sheepy".
You know what almost everyone says after tasting it? "It tastes like milk!" Shocker, I know, but it is true.
What Sheep Milk Actually Tastes Like
Sheep milk just tastes like milk! No strong flavors or off-putting tastes.
Sheep milk can be tricky to describe if you have never tasted it. It is creamier than cow's milk, however it almost seems lighter, almost silkier than cow's milk. It can be sweeter than cow's milk, which kids love. Sheep milk reminds me of half and half, which is why it is perfect for your morning cuppa'.
I have noticed that the non-dairy breeds produce a subtly "sweeter" milk than the dairy breeds.
Nutritional Benefits: Why It's Different
Did you know that the fat and protein content of sheep milk is higher than goat's and cow's? The butterfat content of sheep milk is more than double goat's milk and almost triple that of cow's milk!
In addition, the lactose (milk sugar) in sheep milk is much smaller than in cow's milk, which makes it much easier to digest. Not only that, but when you drink a glass of sheep milk not only does it help digest itself, it will help digest the rest of your meal as well!
Another awesome benefit of sheep milk is many people who cannot tolerate cow or goat milk are able to tolerate sheep milk. I have had two customers now that have bought ewes from me for just this reason. So cool!
One of my husband's favorite things about sheep milk over cow's milk is it does not cause you to become phlegmy after drinking it. After he drinks our raw cow's milk he is constantly clearing his throat—never the case after he drinks sheep milk.
Seasonal Variations
Now in the fall, the milk supply goes down and the cream goes way up—so in fall, it is more akin to drinking half and half than milk, but still so so good. Especially with cookies…or in a honey breve latte!
Sometimes in the spring, raw milk (from any species) can take on an off flavor due to the rich green grass. Feeding a little dry hay in addition to the grass can help offset this flavor issue.
Also, you want to make sure you give your ewe enough time after lambing before consuming her milk. Some ewes take longer than others for her milk to taste "normal". The first milk she produces is colostrum, a very thick, rich first milk vital to lambs. You can drink this superfood, but not all like the richness of it. I actually have a post here that explains what all you can do with extra colostrum!
How to Use Sheep Milk
Sheep milk can be used for anything you might need milk for: fresh drinking, cooking, baking, cheesemaking—did you know that sheep milk is a wonderful choice for cheesemaking as it contains the highest percentage of solids of any milk?
My milk usually stays fresh for about two weeks in the fridge (if it ever sticks around that long!)
What Can Cause Off Flavors?
There are things that can cause an off flavor to your milk. Things like your sheep being sick, her diet, how you handle the milk from the barn to the fridge, etc.
Specific causes include:
Mastitis - If your ewe has mastitis, an udder infection, that can cause an off flavor (saltiness) in your milk.
Transition milk - If the ewe has just given birth in the last couple days she may still have what is known as "transition milk" that is the milk that is in between colostrum and just regular milk.
Improper cleaning - If you didn't do a good enough job of cleaning your ewe's udder, that can cause off flavor.
Contamination - If poop or a foot landed in your bucket, that can cause your milk to taste off and not last as long as normal. FYI - those two things are a deal breaker for me. If a foot lands in my bucket or poop somehow gets in there, it automatically goes to the dogs, cats and chickens.
Improper cooling - Not cooling your milk effectively. When you just stick your milk straight into the fridge, it does not cool down fast enough and that gives bacteria time to take over in your milk and cause off flavors.
My Milking Routine for Fresh-Tasting Milk
A good milking routine is vital to fresh tasting milk. Have you ever heard the term there are many ways to skin a cat? Well a milking routine is kind of like that—there are a lot of different ways you can approach it, and there is a wide spectrum of doing the bare minimum to trying to be as sterile as possible. I like a happy medium, and that is what I stick to unless I have an issue arise such as mastitis in an animal (I have never had a problem with mastitis in my sheep but I have in goats and cows), off tasting milk, or milk that isn't staying as fresh as it should.
Here is my routine:
I take a bucket of hot soapy water and clean rags out to my milking area. I put my ewe up on the stand, and use my hand to brush off any debris on her belly, udder and sides to the best of my ability. Next I take my hot soapy rag and wash her udder and teats. While her udder and teats air dry momentarily, I sweep any debris off the milking stand. I milk the ewe.
If I have several ewes to milk I will then pour the milk into another container that has a butter muslin filter on it to catch any debris. When I am all done milking (I work as quickly as possible) I take my milk back to the house where I pour it through a specific milk filter—these are the ones I have used for the last 12 years and I have always been happy with them. Once the milk is filtered I pour it into clean glass jars.
This next step is vital for long lasting, fresh tasting milk. Many people will now just stick their jars of milk in the fridge or even worse, the freezer. This DOES NOT cool your milk effectively. I put my milk into a cooler designated for just this purpose with cold water and fill it with ice packs until the water level is to the shoulder of the jars. I leave the jars in the ice water bath for two hours (ideally you want the temp to drop to 40℉ in that time) then dry the jars off and put them in my fridge.
The Bottom Line
I love sheep milk. I always like people to try it for themselves and form their own opinion but it's true, of all the milks I have had—cow, goat and sheep—sheep is 100% mine and my family's favorite now. In fact I have to chuckle, whenever my mom asks for milk now I can't even get my question of "cow or sheep milk" out before she insists on having sheep milk.
If you'd like to give sheep milk a try we'd love to have you come visit the farm. Come out for the day or book a stay in one of our unique farmstay accommodations.
Or if you're interested in starting your own flock, check our sale page to see our current availability.
Comment below if you are interested in my cookie or latte recipe! Or tell me your favorite ways to drink your sheep milk.
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