What Is Sheep Casing?

In the world of sausage making, casings are more than wrappers. They’re key ingredients that shape the texture, appearance, and overall eating experience of a sausage. For producers focused on quality and consistency, sheep casings stand out as one of the most essential natural options available.

So, what is sheep casing? Made from the intestines of sheep, these casings offer a delicate texture, tender bite, and ability to deliver that satisfying snap that sausage lovers expect. Their small diameter and uniform sizing make them ideal for producing high volumes of breakfast links, hot dogs, snack sticks, and other smaller sausages without sacrificing quality. 

Seasoned sausage producers know that sheep casings strike a perfect balance between taste and ease of use.. To learn more, let’s explore how sheep casings are made and why they remain a favorite among sausage manufacturers who care about both the process and the product.

Sheep Casings Defined

So, what is sheep casing made of?

They’re derived from a very specific part of a sheep’s digestive system—namely, the submucosal layer of its intestines. The submucosa is a naturally thin yet durable membrane known for its strength and elasticity.

The submucosa is the base ingredient, but before sheep casings are ready for commercial use, they undergo a detailed, multi-step process to ensure they meet food-grade standards:

  1. Harvesting – The submucosa is collected from the sheep and approved for food processing.
  1. Cleaning – The inner submucosal layer is carefully separated, rinsed, and flushed to remove all residual material without damaging the casing's integrity.
  1. Salting – The casings are packed in a large amount of salt to preserve their quality and prevent microbial growth during storage and transport.
  1. Packaging – After salting, the casings are measured and prepared for industrial use based on size and application.

This process ensures that the final product is safe and well-suited for high-speed sausage production. Oversea Casings follows the strictest quality standards in our production of natural sheep casings.

Key Features of Sheep Casings

Sheep casings aren’t just a traditional choice, but are likewise a top option for today’s sausage manufacturers. From a craveworthy mouthfeel to easy workability, they check all the boxes for quality-focused processors. They remain a favorite in the industry due to their:

Thin Walls and Natural Tender Bite

One of the standout qualities of sheep casings is their thin, delicate outer walls. They give the final product a tender, natural bite—which is especially important in smaller sausages that can more easily turn dry and hard with overcooking.

Whether you're producing breakfast links or snack sticks, sheep casings deliver a crisp, satisfying mouthfeel that elevates any sausage. 

Uniform Caliber for Efficient Machine Stuffing

Industrial sausage production demands speed and accuracy. With near-perfect uniformity from front to back, sheep casings are prime candidates for quick stuffing. 

The consistent sizing of sheep casings:

  • Ensures smooth passage through high-speed stuffing machines
  • Reduces the downtime caused by casing breaks
  • Prevents uneven fills

This uniform caliber means processors can maintain a steady rhythm in production without compromising quality—helping to maximize output, reduce waste, and raise profits.

Translucent Appearance for Enhanced Product Appeal

Consumers eat with their eyes first. When it comes to retail sausage sales, a light sheen beckons to shoppers while a dull surface shoos them away. Sheep casings offer a natural, shiny translucence that enhances the appearance of the final product and allows the color and texture of the sausage filling to peek through. 

This clean, appealing look is perfect for deli counters, supermarket shelves, and anywhere else consumers see sausages in their raw, uncooked form.

Why Processors Prefer Sheep Casings

Understanding what is natural sheep casing explains why it remains a top choice in sausage production. The submucosal layer of sheep intestines offers a thin, flexible structure that makes stuffing slim links easier than other kinds of casings. 

They’re also a leading choice for fine-emulsion sausages. This style requires casings that can hold delicate textures without tearing or distorting—which is exactly what sheep casings provide.

From producing classic breakfast links to stuffing snack-size sausages, sheep casings are a versatile, delicious option for all kinds of sausage manufacturers.

Common Types of Sheep Casings Available

At Oversea Casing, we offer a range of sheep casing formats designed to support the unique needs of your production process:

  • Salted casings – This is our regular format for bulk use and what our other kinds of casings are made from. Standard casings are shelf-stable at room temperature, making for easy shipping and storage.
  • Pre-flushed casings – Processors flush and pack these casings with brine to remove the salt and reduce prep time. They're ideal for streamlining production as they can head straight to soaking without needing to be rinsed first.
  • Tubed casings – Pre-threaded onto plastic tubes, these casings allow faster loading and ensure consistent stuffing. They save time and cut down on manual labor during high-volume production runs.
  • Custom caliber selections – We offer casing sizes tailored to match your product specifications, so you can meet customer expectations and packaging requirements with precision.

These casing options offer flexibility, efficiency, and customization to support your personal production demands. When it comes to sausages, it’s what’s on the outside that matters—and that’s why you should trust Oversea Casing for all your casing needs.

Choosing Sheep Casings with Confidence with Oversea Casing

In sausage making, the right casing makes all the difference. Sheep casings offer the ideal blend of tenderness and versatility for processors producing sausages at scale. Their thin walls offer a tender snap, their uniform caliber boosts stuffing efficiency, and their natural appearance results in a premium, shelf-ready finish.

At Oversea Casing, we’re proud to be the only manufacturer of American lamb and sheep casings—providing processors with unmatched traceability, sourcing transparency, and product quality. From food safety to production efficiency, our casings are designed to meet the highest standards of today’s sausage industry and help you deliver consistent, high-performing products batch after batch.

Sources: 

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Sausage Casings. https://www.fao.org/4/x6556e/X6556E03.htm . 


Trends in Food Science & Technology. Collagen use for co-extruded sausage casings – A review. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924224420305124.