Goat Milk vs Cow Milk: A Quick Comparison

Goat milk vs cow milk benefits is a nutritional topic that has slowly been pushing to the forefront of the health scene, as goat milk begins to take on a more commercially viable share of the milk market.

Although, worldwide, goat milk is consumed by more people than cow's milk, in Western societies, cow's milk is still the hands-down winner at the check-out counter.

Goat milk is, however, increasingly forming its own set of dedicated consumers.

Formerly relegated to backyard dairies, goat milk is now showcased in nearly every major grocery store, and comes in a variety of choices that includes added flavors and nutrients, just like its big-time competitor, cow's milk.

One difference you'll notice right away, though, is the price. Goat milk is still a niche market, and doesn't enjoy the cost-cutting practices of mass production techniques; thus, that quart of goat milk from the market may cost you quite a bit more than a quart of cow's milk.

For now, in the checkbook category, goat milk loses this battle in the goat milk vs cow milk debate!

Many goat milk drinkers take the price difference in stride, however, not only because of the additional health benefits of goat milk, but also because of the more natural methods employed by dairy goat farmers.

In general, dairy goat farms are smaller, goats are allowed more free range, antibiotic use is kept to a bare minimum, and hormones, such as the highly controversial bovine growth hormone (rBGH), are not used.

Goats are also a better environmentally-friendly milk producer. Goats can survive and thrive on less pasture, and with much lower quality of natural forage than cows. Goats are also suitable for hilly, rocky areas in which cows could not be kept.

Now, let's look at a comparison of goat milk vs cow milk in terms of nutritional qualities. The information below is only a summary. For complete details, check out the article, Goat Milk Ingredients and its corresponding links.

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Nutritional properties of goat milk vs cow's milk

Property: fat (lipid) content

• Goat milk is higher in total fat.
• Goat milk is much higher in medium chain triglycerides (MCT), associated with numerous health benefits.
• Goat milk has a smaller fat globule size that enhances digestibility.
• Goat milk fat does not clump together, keeping it more homogenized and also aiding digestibility.

Property: protein content

• Goat milk contains more protein per serving.
• Goat milk contains higher levels of essential amino acids.
• Goat milk contains a percentage of proteins with different structures than cow's milk proteins. These differences enhance the digestibility of goat milk protein, and cause fewer allergenic reactions.
• Goat milk contains a percentage of proteins with different structures than cow's milk proteins. These differences enhance the digestibility of goat milk protein, and cause fewer allergenic reactions.
• Goat milk does not contain agglutinin like cow's milk. Agglutinin is what makes the fat in cow's milk separate from the other components.
• Goat milk contains much lower values, and in some cases, none, of the protein alpha-s1-casein. This protein promotes the formation of a hard curd from the milk, slowing digestibility. It is also a major allergen in cow's milk.

Property: carbohydrates

• Goat milk has a lower carbohydrate level, almost all of which is due to less lactose in the milk. The inability to digest lactose is a common condition, and milk with less lactose is helpful for those individuals.

• Goat milk supplies more vitamin A. Vitamin A in goat milk is not in the form of beta-carotene as it is for cow's milk. This different form of vitamin A is what makes goat milk whiter in color than cow's milk.
• Goat milk supplies substantially more niacin (B₃) and B₆.
• Goat milk is lower in folic acid (B₉) and B₁₂.
• Goat milk has comparable amounts of the other vitamins.

• Goat milk is higher in calcium.
• Goat milk is higher in phosphorous.
• Goat milk has substantially more potassium.
• Goat milk has more iron and copper.
• Goat milk has more magnesium.
• Goat milk has substantially more manganese.
• Selenium in goat milk has been shown to have more antioxidant activity.
• Goat milk has comparable levels of zinc and sodium.

So, don't be put off by a higher price tag at the grocery store. In comparing goats milk vs cows milk, you can see that you're actually getting more!

Nutritional studies are ongoing, so check back here for any new information related to goat milk vs cow milk!

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