# Do people drink sheep milk? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 31, 2007, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-drink-sheep-milk/417571 "2007-08-31T02:39:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wonderfun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/45deac/32.png) [@wonderfun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonderfun)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-drink-sheep-milk/417571/1 "2007-08-31T02:39:14Z")
People drink cow’s milk and cheese, goat’s milk and cheese. What about sheep milk and/ or cheese? Wonderfun ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-drink-sheep-milk/417571/2 "2007-08-31T02:43:11Z")
Looks like: [http://www.sheepdairying.com/Milk.htm](http://www.sheepdairying.com/Milk.htm) ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-drink-sheep-milk/417571/3 "2007-08-31T02:47:34Z")
People eat sheep’s cheese, but not me because I find it unpleasant. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-drink-sheep-milk/417571/4 "2007-08-31T04:28:47Z")
Of course, any readily available source of nutrition is likely to have been exploited. Unlike **Shoshana** I find sheep’s cheese absolutely delicious. Apparently mare’s milk is better for humans than cow’s milk. Which does make me wonder about pig’s milk. Pigs are supposedly closer to human physiology than any other farm animal, which is why there are experiments on using pig pancreases to replace or supplement our for diabetics, for instance. So is pig’s milk close to human milk? I can’t recall hearing about it anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-drink-sheep-milk/417571/5 "2007-08-31T05:16:07Z")
Some of the [best cheese in the world](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roquefort_cheese) is made from sheep’s milk. (It may not be to everyone’s taste, but it sure is to mine.) ---
**Author:** ![blackhobyah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blackhobyah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blackhobyah)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-drink-sheep-milk/417571/6 "2007-08-31T12:04:49Z")
My favourite yoghurt, which I have most days for lunch is [Meredith Dairy’s](http://meredithdairy.com/mdProducts.html) sheep milk yoghurt. I also buy sheep’s milk fetta when I can afford it; Greek-style cheeses often use sheep milk. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-drink-sheep-milk/417571/7 "2007-08-31T12:34:22Z")
Romano cheese is traditionally made from sheep’s milk (though it also can be cow’s or goat’s). ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-drink-sheep-milk/417571/8 "2007-08-31T13:10:02Z")
A friend of mine has a herd of dairy sheep - I’ve tried the milk - I thought it was nice and creamy - but that might only be because it was whole milk and I’m accustomed to drinking semi-skimmed. Cheese and yoghurt made from it is great. ---
**Author:** ![aerodave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f08c70/32.png) [@aerodave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aerodave)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-drink-sheep-milk/417571/9 "2007-08-31T13:51:35Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] Romano cheese is traditionally made from sheep’s milk (though it also can be cow’s or goat’s). [/QUOTE] Pecorino romano, when labeled as such, must me made from sheep’s milk. The name has “Protected Designation of Origin” status, like champagne and Parmigiano Reggiano. Pecorino, in fact, comes from the Italian for “sheep”. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-drink-sheep-milk/417571/10 "2007-08-31T15:40:38Z")
[QUOTE=Askance] Of course, any readily available source of nutrition is likely to have been exploited. Unlike **Shoshana** I find sheep’s cheese absolutely delicious. Apparently mare’s milk is better for humans than cow’s milk. Which does make me wonder about pig’s milk. Pigs are supposedly closer to human physiology than any other farm animal, which is why there are experiments on using pig pancreases to replace or supplement our for diabetics, for instance. So is pig’s milk close to human milk? I can’t recall hearing about it anywhere. [/QUOTE] Pigs are almost impossible to milk. While it’s possible to get pig milk for analysis, it’s just not a nutrition source. Water buffalo, yaks, and camels are also milk sources in the native cultures which raise these animals. You can even find [camel milk ice cream](http://planetlactose.blogspot.com/2006/08/camel-milk-ice-cream-who-knows-cool.html). ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-drink-sheep-milk/417571/11 "2007-08-31T17:12:47Z")
I’ve tried sheep milk, and it ain’t ba-a-a-a-a-ad. (sorry) ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-drink-sheep-milk/417571/12 "2007-08-31T18:02:32Z")
Okay, it’s taken me a long time to find the clip, master the technology, upload, etc. but it’s all worth it to bring you [this!](http://www.flickr.com/photos/79839173@N00/1287477310/) ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-drink-sheep-milk/417571/13 "2007-08-31T22:29:29Z")
[QUOTE=Shoshana] People eat sheep’s cheese, but not me because I find it unpleasant. YMMV. [/QUOTE] Clarification please: Just what is it you find unpleasant? I want to make sure I understand just what you’re asserting. 😉 More on the benefits of sheep milk here: [http://www.all-animals.com/milk.html](http://www.all-animals.com/milk.html) ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-drink-sheep-milk/417571/14 "2007-08-31T22:50:41Z")
The part where I eat it. ---
**Author:** ![aerodave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f08c70/32.png) [@aerodave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aerodave)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-drink-sheep-milk/417571/15 "2007-08-31T22:51:00Z")
I’m curious, too, as to what could be unpleasant about it. Before I knew that feta was made from goat’s milk, and romano from sheep’s, it never occurred to me and wasn’t obvious. Finding out didn’t change my impression of those cheeses. And if no one had ever told me, I could easily think they were both cow’s milk-derived. If you knew that Parmigiano Reggiano and Pecorino Romano were made from the milk of two different animals, but didn’t know which was which, could you tell? Point is, it seems more likely to be a perception issue than anything inherent in the flavor or texture. But maybe that’s just me and my unrefined palate. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-drink-sheep-milk/417571/16 "2007-08-31T23:07:09Z")
I don’t like the taste of sheep’s cheese. I like goat cheese just fine. There’s no squick involved related to sheep _per se._ I’m thinking particularly of cheeses one eats on their own rather than melted into a sauce. I find a lot of sheep’s milk cheeses sour. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-drink-sheep-milk/417571/17 "2007-08-31T23:43:58Z")
[QUOTE=panache45] I’ve tried sheep milk, and it ain’t ba-a-a-a-a-ad. (sorry) [/QUOTE] **Ha-a-a-a-a-l** likes it, too! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2007, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-drink-sheep-milk/417571/18 "2007-09-01T00:40:24Z")
Kind of a hijack, but _I’ve_ always wondered: Do Androids Drink of Electric Sheep Milk? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2007, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-drink-sheep-milk/417571/19 "2007-09-01T08:42:55Z")
[QUOTE=Askance] Of course, any readily available source of nutrition is likely to have been exploited. Unlike **Shoshana** I find sheep’s cheese absolutely delicious. Apparently mare’s milk is better for humans than cow’s milk. Which does make me wonder about pig’s milk. Pigs are supposedly closer to human physiology than any other farm animal, which is why there are experiments on using pig pancreases to replace or supplement our for diabetics, for instance. So is pig’s milk close to human milk? I can’t recall hearing about it anywhere. [/QUOTE] ISTR we did a thread on pig milk & pig cheese in the last year. The inability to search for “pig” makes it too hard for me to locate now. The verdict was “Verrrry baaaad Missus Addammzzzzz” ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2007, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-drink-sheep-milk/417571/20 "2007-09-01T10:54:10Z")
In the business, it’s called “shilk”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-people-drink-sheep-milk/417571.md?page=2)