Sheep milk cheese is a

cheese Cheese is a type of dairy product produced in a range of flavors, textures, and forms by coagulation of the milk protein casein. It comprises proteins and fat from milk (usually the milk of cows, buffalo, goats or sheep). During prod ...

prepared from

sheep milk Sheep milk is the milk of domestic sheep. It is commonly used to make cultured dairy products, such as cheese. Some of the most popular sheep cheeses include feta (Greece), pecorino romano (Italy), Roquefort (France) and Manchego (Spain). ...

. Well-known cheeses made from sheep milk include the feta of Greece,

Roquefort Roquefort () is a sheep milk blue cheese from southern France. Though similar cheeses are produced elsewhere, European Union law, EU law dictates that only those cheeses aged in the natural Combalou caves of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon may bear the na ...

of France, manchego from Spain, the pecorino romano and ricotta of Italy.

Yogurt Yogurt (; , from , ; also spelled yoghurt, yogourt or yoghourt) is a food produced by bacterial Fermentation (food), fermentation of milk. Fermentation of sugars in the milk by these bacteria produces lactic acid, which acts on milk protein to ...

s, especially some forms of strained yogurt, may also be made from sheep milk.

Nutrition and production

Sheep have only two teats, and produce a far smaller volume of milk than cows. However, as sheep's milk contains far more fat, solids, and minerals than cow's milk, it is ideal for the cheese-making process. It also resists contamination during cooling better because of its much higher

calcium Calcium is a chemical element; it has symbol Ca and atomic number 20. As an alkaline earth metal, calcium is a reactive metal that forms a dark oxide-nitride layer when exposed to air. Its physical and chemical properties are most similar to it ...

content. Sheep milk contains 4.8%

lactose Lactose is a disaccharide composed of galactose and glucose and has the molecular formula C12H22O11. Lactose makes up around 2–8% of milk (by mass). The name comes from (Genitive case, gen. ), the Latin word for milk, plus the suffix ''-o ...

, more lactose than cow milk, and is therefore not an alternative for people who are lactose intolerant. Though sheep's milk may be drunk in fresh form, today it is used predominantly in cheese and yogurt making. Well-known cheeses made from sheep milk include the Feta of

Bulgaria Bulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern portion of the Balkans directly south of the Danube river and west of the Black Sea. Bulgaria is bordered by Greece and Turkey t ...

and

Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...

of France, Manchego from Spain, the Pecorino Romano (the Italian word for sheep is ''pecore'') and Ricotta of

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

. Yogurts, especially some forms of strained yogurt, may also be made from sheep milk. Many of these products are now often made with cow's milk, especially when produced outside their country of origin. For the cheese to fully ripen takes at least two weeks; it can take between two and three months, and even up to two years.

By country

France

French sheep milk cheeses include Abbaye de Bellocq, Brique, Berger de Rocastin, Brebicet, Le Claousou, Lévejac, Valdeblore,

, Ardi-gasna, Agour, Ossau-Iraty, Brocciu, Asco, Brin d'amour, Faisselle, Fleur de Maquis, A filetta, and Niolo. File:Cheese-France-Brin-dAmour.jpg, Brin d'Amour File:Brocciu2.jpg, Brocciu File:Fromage-levejac.jpg, Levejac File:Fromage du Niolu.jpg, Niolo

Cyprus

Cypriot sheep milk cheeses include Anari and Halloumi.

Greece

Greek sheep milk cheeses include Feta and Kefalotyri. File:Feta Greece 2.jpg, Feta

Italy

Italian sheep milk cheeses include Pecorino Romano, Pecorino Sardo, Pecorino Siciliano, Pecorino Toscano and Ricotta. File:Pecorino Sardo Cheese.jpg, Pecorino Sardo File:Pecorino Rosso Volterrano one Quarter on whole TOTAL.jpg, Pecorino Toscano File:Casu Marzu cheese.jpg, Casu marzu is a traditional

Sardinia Sardinia ( ; ; ) is the Mediterranean islands#By area, second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, and one of the Regions of Italy, twenty regions of Italy. It is located west of the Italian Peninsula, north of Tunisia an ...

n sheep milk cheese that contains live insect

larva A larva (; : larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into their next life stage. Animals with indirect development such as insects, some arachnids, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase ...

e and cheese mites from the cheese flies. A variation of this cheese exists also in

Corsica Corsica ( , , ; ; ) is an island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the Regions of France, 18 regions of France. It is the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean and lies southeast of the Metro ...

(

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

), where it is called casgiu merzu and is especially produced in some Southern Corsican villages like Sartene.

Croatia

Croatian sheep milk cheeses include Pag cheese and Ovidur. File:Paski-round.jpg, Pag cheese is hard, distinctively flavored sheep milk cheese originating from the Adriatic island of Pag

Poland

Polish sheep milk cheeses include oscypek and bryndza. File:Oscypki.jpg, Oscypek cheese. File:00932 Beskider Bundz-Käse aus Schafsmilch 2013; Sheep's-milk cheeses from Poland; Northern Subcarpathians.JPG, Artisanal sheep's-milk cheeses from the local market, made by sheepherders in Poland

Portugal

Portuguese sheep milk cheeses include Castelo Branco, Azeitão, Rabaçal, Saloio, Serpa and Serra.

Spain

Among the very many cheese varieties in Spain made from sheep's milk and protected by the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) there is Roncal, made in the Roncal Valley; Idiazabal cheese, made in both Basque Country and

Navarre Navarre ( ; ; ), officially the Chartered Community of Navarre, is a landlocked foral autonomous community and province in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Autonomous Community, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and New Aquitaine in France. ...

regions from Latxa and Carranzana sheep's milk; Torta del Casar, made in

Extremadura Extremadura ( ; ; ; ; Fala language, Fala: ''Extremaúra'') is a landlocked autonomous communities in Spain, autonomous community of Spain. Its capital city is Mérida, Spain, Mérida, and its largest city is Badajoz. Located in the central- ...

region from

Merino The Merino is a list of sheep breeds, breed or group of breeds of domestic sheep, characterised by very fine soft wool. It was established in Spain near the end of the Middle Ages, and was for several centuries kept as a strict Spanish monop ...

sheep's milk; Manchego cheese, made in La Mancha region from Manchega sheep's milk. File:Manchego.jpg, Manchego File:Torta del Casar.jpg, Torta del Casar served with biscuits

Hungary

Hungary produces ''Parenyica'', a sheep's milk cheese described as lightly smoked rolled cheese usually made from ewe's milk, but also from cows milk; surrounded by an edible cheese twine. In the Northern region of Hungary another ewes milk cheese, ''Gomolya'' is made and it is allowed to ripen outside in the sun for 3 weeks while slung in cheesecloth under an open-roofed shelter. It will develop a stronger flavour when allowed to mature on wooden boards. p218.

Denmark

Danish sheep milk cheeses includes Mønsk Mangcego and salad cheeses and white cheeses.

Ukraine

Ukrainian sheep milk cheeses includes bryndza and feta, salad cheeses and white cheeses. File:Aged Bessarabian bryndza.jpg, Aged Bessarabian sheep milk bryndza from a market in

Izmail Izmail (, ; ; , or ; ) is a List of cities in Ukraine, city and List of hromadas of Ukraine, municipality on the Danube river in Odesa Oblast in south-western Ukraine. It serves as the administrative center of Izmail Raion, one of seven distr ...