Fourteen Sheep sheep's milk doesn’t just taste great – there are some very important reasons why sheep’s milk is a better choice:
- Easier to digest
Sheep’s milk is naturally homogenised with smaller fat globules making it easier to digest. Containing less than 3% lactose, it can often be tolerated by people who are intolerant to cows’ and goats’ milk – great news if you’re a lactose-intolerant dairy lover!
- Rich in good fats
Sheep’s milk is higher in mono and polyunsaturated fats when compared to other milks.
- Higher in nutrients
Sheep’s milk has almost double the calcium and protein in cows' milk and significantly higher than goats' milk. It contains higher levels of vitamins including Vitamin B12, Folate, Magnesium and Vitamin C when compared with both cows' and goats' milk.
- Better for the land
Sheep are remarkably efficient in their ability to convert grass to milk, making them easier on the environment. And unlike many cows, they are predominantly grass-fed too.
Sheep's Milk and Lactose Intolerance
by Amy Fitzgerald BNutDiet (Monash University)
The protein type in milk influences how easily we can digest it(1). The proteins in found in the milks of different animals varies(1). The type found in Sheep’s milk is considered to be more easily digested than that of Cow’s milk(1).
These differences also mean that some individuals with Cow’s milk allergy may better tolerate Sheep’s milk. Sheep’s milk can be used as an alternative to Cow’s milk in some individuals with Cow’s milk allergy, however, you should always seek advice from your healthcare professional(1).
Sheep’s milk also has a lower sugar or lactose content than Cow’s milk, about 2.4g/100g compared to 6.3g/100g(2). The lower lactose content of Sheep’s milk may mean that it is better tolerated in some lactose intolerant individuals than Cow’s milk.
1. Claeys W, Verraes C, Cardoen S, De Block J, Huyghebaert A, Raes K, et al. Consumption of raw or heated milk from different species: An evaluation of the nutritional and potential health benefits. Food Control. 2014;42:188-201
2. http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/science/monitoringnutrients/nutrientables/nuttab/Pages/default.aspx
