The effect of two feeding techniques on the physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics of milk and cheese was studied in Sarda dairy ewes. The feeding diets were: hay, silage and concentrate mixed together (total mixed ration, UF group) and Italian ryegrass pasture (PA group). Milk composition was significantly different in the two groups: the butyric acid bacteria spore content was higher in UF than PA (1140 UF vs. 20 PA MPN per l; P less than 0.01) whereas the somatic cell count was higher in PA than UF (P less than 0.01). There were differences regarding the lactodinamographic characteristics of milk between the two groups (R: 21.52 UF vs. 31.91 PA min.; K20: 9.39 UF vs. 12.42 PA; P less than 0.05). Fat content in the cheese was higher in UF than PA but the texture was lower in UF cheese.