The history of milking sheep can be dated all the way back to the times of Herodotus of Halicarnassus, the famous Greek historian living in the fifth century BCE.  He spoke of two kinds of sheep in Arabia (only described as having long and broad tails), both used in the production of not only animal sacrifice, but also of the milking industry. Jason and the Argonauts, Greek mythology composed in roughly the third century BCE, also discusses not only the story of the Golden Fleece, but the consumption of sheep milk as well.  In the image below, sheep can be seen in the relief found in Pompeii, the Roman city destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.  Basically, sheep milk has been consumed for its amazing rejuvenating properties for thousands of years.  But what are those “magical properties” found in sheep milk?

Relief found on the walls of Pompeii

Sheep milk is richer in vitamins A, B, and E, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium than cows milk and goats milk combined.  Although most of us know these vitamins are good for us, we may not know exactly why.  Vitamin A, in basic terms, functions as a metabolite used in the retina allowing us the ability to see color. Vitamin B increases our metabolism, keeps our skin healthy, enhances our immune and nervous systems, promotes cell growth, and can also reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer.  As a fat-soluble antioxidant, Vitamin E reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer.  Calcium is not only good for bone health, but also helps reduce the risk of osteoporosis and even helps pregnant moms stay healthy.  Phosphorus also helps our bones as well as assisting in our digestion, protein formation, energy, cell repair, and hormone balance. Potassium helps our heart, kidneys, muscles, nerves and digestive system function properly and magnesium helps the transmission of nerve impulses, detoxification, body temperature regulation, and energy production.  It also helps the formation of our bones and teeth.

There are however even more benefits to the consumption of sheep milk.  It has higher short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA). Unlike long-chain fatty acids (LCFA) better known as saturated fat, SCFA and MCFA are absorbed in the GI tract more efficiently and contribute to metabolism boosting and hold potential as weight loss agents.[1] Sheep milk also has more conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) than the milk from cows, pigs, goats, horses, or even humans. CLA is a relatively newly discovered good fat that some say is a cancer fighter.  In some recent studies, CLA has slowed the growth of tumors in the skin, colon, prostate, and breasts of lab animals (Human studies are now underway). As a matter of fact, women with CLA in their diet can reduce the risk of breast cancer by 60 percent.  And although there is a synthetic version of CLA used mostly for diet and muscle building, there are potentially serious side effects.  Synthetic CLA can cause a raise in glucose levels and a reduction in HDL, otherwise known as “good” cholesterol.  Natural CLA, however, has no known negative side effects. Thus, grass-fed sheep produce over two and a half times the CLA found in cattle raised in feedlots.[2]

To purchase your own attainable fountain of youth, otherwise known as sheep milk, see flier below for prices and directions to our farm and/or delivery options!!

SheepMilkAndCheesePrices

1. Bil says:

   February 26, 2012 at 5:35 am

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