Benefits of Ewe’s Milk for Nutrition

Sep 15 2025

The health benefits are rarely the headline appeal when it comes to selecting a favourite cheese, particularly when there is so much to enjoy in the flavour and aroma. But increasingly we are studying the natural ingredients of cheese to monitor the health impacts.
Ewe’s milk is far less common than cow’s milk and is certainly used less often in the production of cheese. It is often overlooked as a base for fine cheesemaking, but its beneficial nutritional properties are slowly being recognised, and two examples of the premium quality cheeses ewe’s milk produces highlight the unique flavours and textures it can produce, alongside some notable health benefits. Roquefort and Ossau Iraty are both examples of how ewe’s milk provides important nutritional advantages, but also how these ingredients deliver a unique and truly stunning cheese.

What nutritional benefits does ewe’s milk provide?

There are a number of natural ingredients in ewe’s milk which provide health benefits, which in some cases give it an advantage over cheeses which use cow’s milk. Ewe’s milk contains:

Higher levels of essential vitamins than in cow’s milk, such as A, B2, B12 and D. B12 is a high-quality protein, while Vitamin D is good for bone health.
Rich in calcium, magnesium and zinc which is good for a healthy immune system, while calcium is also good for bone health.
Lower lactose content than cow’s milk, which means it is better for people with a lactose intolerance and hence would be easier to digest. This also makes it good for muscle growth and tissue repair.
Higher fat content than cow’s milk, but importantly these are more beneficial fats such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which are heart healthy fats which help to reduce body fat. It also contains beneficial fatty acids such as conjugated linoleic acid.

The combination of fat and protein in ewe’s milk helps to produce the enhanced and unique flavours of ewe’s milk cheeses, and also helps with texture and composition of these cheeses.

Ewe’s milk cheeses from Sodiaal

Two of our most popular cheeses are sourced from ewe’s milk and provide cheese lovers with smooth flavours and an intense experience. Roquefort is produced by taking advantage of the unique biological conditions in the Causses region, where cool air and humidity helps to produce an amazing quality of ewe’s milk, which in its raw state enjoys PDO status and contributes to the special flavour and texture of this famous blue cheese. Roquefort is smooth and creamy but has a sharp and tangy taste profile which leaves you wanting more.

Our other ewe’s milk cheese is Ossau Iraty, which is produced in the mild climate of the Pyrénées. Ripening for a minimum of 120 days at the foot of the famous mountains results in a smooth aroma and a mild tasting cheese which has melt-in-the-mouth properties, and which can be uniquely identified by the ewe’s head that is embossed on the thick outer rind.

Both these cheeses are seasonal, in that ewe’s milk is only produced between November and July, but whenever you need a supply of ewe’s milk cheeses such as Roquefort and Ossau Iraty, Sodiaal can deliver, so contact our team for more information today.