Abstract:
There are approximately 6.14 million sheep in the United States (NASS 2005); however, only approximately 11,000 are dairy ewes (Thomas 2004). In 2003, the estimated U.S. sheep milk production was 1.2–1.8 million kg, most of which was used for cheese production (Thomas 2004). Cow and goat milk cheeses
have been produced in Oregon for decades. No sheep milk cheese is currently produced in Oregon, although sheep milk cheeses are popular around the world. Sheep milk cheeses originated primarily in countries surrounding the
Mediterranean Sea. Some of the cheeses made exclusively from sheep milk are listed in this publication. Many more cheeses are made from sheep milk
mixed with goat or cow milk.
