According to the International Dairy Federation (IDF), as of 2022, the world produces about 850 million tons of milk per year, with the share of cow's milk being about 700 million tons. But in second place is goat milk, its share is about 15 million tons.
Now the Internet is full of articles about goat milk. About its study, properties, composition and undoubted benefits. But the information is very contradictory and not always reliable. Let's try to bring all the numerous data together, try to separate truth from fiction and find out whether goat's milk is as healthy as they say about it. And for clarity, let’s compare it with the most popular and affordable milk - cow's milk.
Let’s not go deep into the weeds and throw in complex chemical terms like lactoferrins and triglycerides, but let’s take the simplest criteria:
- Vitamins
- Fat content
- Squirrels
- Hypoallergenic
- Minerals
- Digestibility
- Smell and taste
- 8 Cost and availability.
So, let's begin!
Comparison of composition
Energy value of nutrients per 1 liter.
| Milk | Proteins, g | Fats, g | Carbohydrates, g | Calories |
| Goat | 41 | 44 | 44 | 800 |
| Cow | 32 | 34,5 | 48 | 600 |
As can be seen from the table, goat's milk is richer in composition than cow's milk.
Minerals
The chemical composition of milk is incredibly complex. But we are only interested in the most important chemical elements for humans, presented in milk in the form of compounds.
The mineral content in both types of milk is again close - approximately 0.7-0.9%. But at the same time, goat milk contains much more:
- calcium and phosphorus, responsible for the condition of bones, teeth, hair
- potassium, which ensures efficient functioning of the cardiovascular system
- selenium, which is a powerful antioxidant.
At this point, 1 point for goat milk.
The overall score is 6-3 in favor of the goats.
Is it possible to be allergic to goat's milk?
Goat milk is less likely to cause allergies, is better digestible and more nutritious, therefore it is recommended for feeding preschool children. Whole goat milk can be given to children, provided there are no contraindications, from 3 years of age. For feeding infants, there are specially adapted milk formulas based on goat's milk. Such mixtures are prescribed in cases where there is an allergy to cow's milk protein.
But a possible allergy to goat's milk cannot be ruled out. The presence of casein and lactoferin in the composition can cause diarrhea and rash - these are the main symptoms of intolerance to the product.
Most often, children under 6 years of age are susceptible to this. When digestive functions are not sufficiently formed.
Signs appear in the first hours or days. To avoid harmful effects, you should stop taking the product. To reduce the likelihood of side effects, milk should be boiled before use.
Vitamins
Goat milk contains more:
- vitamin B6, responsible for the nervous and immune systems and tissue regeneration by 25%
- Vitamin A, also known as retinol, is necessary for good vision and immunity by 47%.
But cow's milk contains:
- 5 times more vitamin B12, its deficiency in the body leads to the development of chronic fatigue, anemia and schizophrenia.
- 10 times more B9 or folic acid, the absence of which can cause anemia, atherosclerosis, stroke and heart attack, and nervous disorders.
Vitamins C, E, N and D are approximately the same amount.
We will assume that there is a tie in this category and will award 1 point.
Goat milk products
Farmers, chefs and culinary specialists use milk to produce cheeses, butters, and cottage cheese.
Let's look at the benefits of each product.
Cheese
It contains a lot of calcium, necessary for the construction of the skeletal system and teeth.
Eating goat cheese normalizes blood pressure.
It is classified as a dietary product and is recommended for use at any age.
Low cholesterol has a beneficial effect on blood vessels, reducing the risk of plaque formation.
Cottage cheese
A popular product on the country table. It is rare in city stores and has a fairly high price compared to cow milk.
Nutritious, contains enough fats, but few carbohydrates. Low calorie content.
Recommended for use when:
- cardiovascular diseases;
- normalization of the gastrointestinal tract;
- pregnancy.
However, overdoing it can be harmful. It should be taken with caution in case of kidney disease and atherosclerosis.
Fat content
This figure is approximately the same - on average it is about 3 - 4%. But there is one difference, which is the structure of the fats. The fact is that milk fat is present in milk in the form of balls. (Yes, this is the most scientific term! One type of milk study involves counting the number and determining the shape of fat globules) So, these same fat globules in goat’s milk are much smaller than in cow’s milk and are evenly distributed throughout the entire volume milk rather than collecting on the surface. Which leads to better digestibility of goat milk.
Here we boldly give 1 point each, plus goat milk a point for digestibility.
The overall score is 3-2 in favor of goat milk.
Storage conditions
The antibacterial effect of the drink allows you to store it unboiled in well-treated containers for up to 7 days. In the absence of knowledge about the condition of the livestock, the product should be heated to 70 degrees to get rid of harmful bacteria. With longer storage, the beneficial substances decompose, so it is recommended to drink the drink fresh.
Organoleptic properties
Simply put, the taste, smell, color of milk. There is an opinion that goat milk has, so to speak, a specific smell. But farmers have always known that this only happens in one case - if the dairy goat is kept in poor conditions. It is foolish to expect a quality product from an unkempt animal! Many experiments have been conducted to explore this area by asking people to blindly compare goat's milk with cow's milk. So, the majority of respondents preferred goat, saying that it was sweeter and more attractive in appearance, although an unusual smell was still noted.
So it's still a draw - one point each. Total, 7-4.
It should be noted that the Anglo-Nubian goats kept on our farm “Land of Friends” produce excellent milk, which initially does not have a specific smell, but has a creamy taste with notes of nut and nutmeg (this is such a feature of this breed of goats).
Contraindications
Lactase deficiency, allergies, and gastrointestinal diseases are the first contraindications for consuming not only goat's milk, but also cow's milk. The deposition of calcium salts in the vessels also forces an immediate diet.
A preventative method is boiling, since raw drinks may contain pathogenic bacteria. Antibiotics and hormones extracted when milking a cow after a period of treatment enter the liquid. The steam drink may contain the hormone estrogen, which has a detrimental effect on the lactation process in women.
New technologies
Traditional processing methods have disadvantages, due to which scientists are constantly looking for new technologies for the food industry. Today, new milk processing options are offered:
- Ultraviolet. The raw materials are treated with ultraviolet radiation, creating a sealed milk layer controlled in thickness. Irradiation is carried out in the range of 165-185 nm. Layer thickness – 80-120 microns. The technology uses the ability of ultraviolet radiation to destroy the DNA of microorganisms - they lose the ability to reproduce. The industry today produces light sterilizers SSM, which can be used in livestock farms.
Infrared. The industry produces devices - infrared pasteurizers, which are used to pasteurize the milk of cows with mastitis. This milk is not suitable for humans, but can be used to feed calves. There are 3 groups of devices - up to 300, 500-1500 and 2000-5000 l/h.
What can you supplement your baby with?
In terms of composition, the difference between cow's and goat's milk is small, so neither of them can be used as a substitute for breast milk. For these purposes, it is better to choose adapted mixtures. There is a myth that such a product cannot be useful due to its unnaturalness. This opinion is erroneous, since modern adapted formulas are close in composition to breast milk, while it is stable regardless of the season. They contain microelements and vitamins necessary for an infant. The milk protein in the mixture goes through processing that reduces the possibility of allergic reactions. In addition, this product is prepared easily and quickly, which gives parents more time to communicate with their baby.
During pregnancy and lactation
A woman's resources are depleted when she is carrying a fetus or nursing a child. The baby absorbs the most beneficial properties from breast milk, but this same reserve must be replenished. The necessary calcium, fluorine, and other macro- and microelements are found in this drink. Also, due to some components, metabolism is facilitated, which is very important for the comfort of a nursing mother.
The requirement during pregnancy is 1-2 glasses. During lactation, to prevent allergic reactions, excessive consumption of such products is prohibited. To prevent the absorption of components in the baby, they begin to introduce the product gradually (from 1 glass per day).
How to increase your score
The fat content of goat milk depends on feeding and caring for the livestock. To increase the indicator, it is enough to adjust your diet.
Examples:
- Adding tree branches to the diet. This will make the milk fattier and sweeter. Branches of cherry, currant, and apple trees are suitable. For the winter, brooms are collected from rowan, oak, and birch.
- Inclusion of mineral and vitamin supplements. The deficiency of nutrients is especially acute in winter. This leads to a decrease in milk yield, quality, and fat content.
- Increasing the protein component of feed. It is recommended to include concentrated feed or BMFC in the diet for large and small ruminants.
- Feeding with roughage in stalls or on dry pasture during the summer months.
Be sure to read:
What is the name of the mountain goat, description and characteristics of the breeds and habitat?
However, in most cases, fat content is determined genetically, that is, by breed. The more milk-producing the animal, the thinner the product. For example, Saanen goats produce a lot of milk, so it is rarely fatty.
Lactose intolerance
Lactose is the main type of carbohydrate in all milk from mammals, including humans, cows, goats, sheep and buffalo ().
It is a disaccharide made up of glucose and galactose, and your body needs the enzyme lactase to digest it. However, most people stop producing this enzyme after infancy, around age 2.
Thus, they become lactose intolerant and consuming lactose can cause symptoms such as bloating, flatulence, diarrhea and abdominal pain ().
People with lactose intolerance can control their symptoms by limiting the amount of lactose-containing foods they eat or following a lactose-free diet (,).
They can also take lactase supplements before consuming dairy products.
Summary:
Consumption of lactose may cause digestive problems in people with lactose intolerance. However, they can control their symptoms by limiting their lactose intake or following a lactose-free diet.
