We get asked this question so often by customers of ours who have been avoiding dairy for years.

Sheep's milk is a dairy product and therefore does contain lactose, but it is a very different type of dairy product to cows milk 

The type of protein in sheep’s milk differs from that of cows milk protein.

Sheep’s milk is a dairy product, and all dairy products have lactose, however the type of protein in sheep’s milk differs from that of cows milk. Research now shows that a common form of cow's milk beta-casein protein (called A1) could potentially cause stomach pain and other gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Another variant of the protein, called A2, isn't associated with these adverse effects and is the type of protein in sheeps milk.

Sheep’s milk may relive your digestive issues

If some people who believe they're lactose intolerant are actually reacting to A1 beta-casein, then drinking sheep’s milk could relieve their digestive issues.

Lactose intolerance is probably as low as 5% in Ireland

Lactose intolerance is less common if dairy has been an important part of a population's diet for generations. For example, people of Northern European descent, for whom dairy is traditionally a dietary staple,  Ireland being an example, can have rates of lactose intolerance as low as 5%.

So next time you are feeling uncomfortable having drunk that glass of milk, consider that you may not be lactose intolerant, but in fact sensitive to A1 protein, and you might consider trying A2 protein sheep’s milk instead. 

We offer a variety pack    https://velvetcloud.ie/products/variety-pack-try-a-bit-of-everything

Or you can buy sheep's milk on its own

https://velvetcloud.ie/products/sheep-milk-frozen

Our hero product and most widely available is our live sheep's yogurt for a list of all our stockist by country click here:  https://velvetcloud.ie/pages/stockists

References

1. Lactose intolerance. US National Library of Medicine, Genetics Home Reference website. https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/lactose-intolerance#statistics. Updated August 29, 2017.
2. Pasin G. A2 milk facts. California Dairy Research Foundation website. http://cdrf.org/2017/02/09/a2-milk-facts/. Published February 9, 2017.

2. Kral L. The health battle behind America's next milk trend. The Atlantic. January 27, 2017. https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/01/a-tale-of-two-milks/514397/
3. European Food Safety Authority. Review of the potential health impact of β-casomorphins and related peptides. EFSA J. 2009;7(2):1-107.
4. Pal S, Woodford K, Kukuljan S, Ho S. Milk intolerance, beta-casein and lactose. Nutrients. 2015;7(9):7285-7297.
5. Ho S, Woodford K, Kukuljan S, Pal S. Comparative effects of A1 versus A2 beta-casein on gastrointestinal measures: a blinded randomised cross-over pilot study. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2014 Sep;68(9):994-1000. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2014.127. Epub 2014 Jul 2. PMID: 24986816.