Cow’s milk/Goat’s milk. How do you choose?
Apple the mini Jersey (Taffy’s baby)
Mini Guernsey goats are the cutest!
You and I can totally agree that cows and goats are both adorable. And the milk their mamas produce is delicious.
But, there are advantages and disadvantages to their milk.
So how do you choose? Cow milk or goat milk, which is better?
While raw milk from either species is far superior to pasteurized milk from the store, on the rare occasion, some can still find their tummies upset after drinking cow milk.
"Nooooo… I can't be allergic to milk, can I??" I just heard you screaming at your computer..
This "allergy" may be due to a protein in some cows’ milk that goats don't have.
Not to bore you with too much scientific stuff, but some cows (not all) carry a protein called A1 beta-casein.
It’s most often seen in commercial cows, like Holsteins. Cows can be A1/A1, A1/A2, or A2/A2, plus some inbetween like A2/B.
Yeah, I told you, boring AND confusing.
Claims are: A1/A1 milk can be harder on digestive systems, causing irritation, upset stomachs, and some claims are even worse.
A2/A2 is the most desirable to some, but the lack of research on these different types of milk leaves the claims more of an opinion than concrete evidence.
Heritage breeds, like our Jersey cows, are more likely to carry the A2 protein.
We have tested most of our cows and found that the majority have A2 milk.
Now, back to the cow/goat milk debate.
Goat’s milk PROS:
Smaller fat globules make it easier to digest
No A1 protein
Contains less lactose (milk sugars)
Slightly higher in most vitamins and minerals
Goat’s milk CONS:
Can have a slight "goaty" taste after about 1-2 weeks in the fridge
Low in Vitamin B 12
Cream does not separate without a cream separator
Harder to find a supply and more costly because they do not produce as much as a cow
We won’t hold those “cons” against them, they’re too cute!
Cow’s milk PROS:
Easier to find a supply
Cream rises to the top, making it easy to use in recipes
High in Vitamin B 12
Most prefer the taste of cow milk over goat milk
Cow’s milk CONS:
Possible A1 protein may cause digestive issues
Slightly lower in most vitamins and minerals (compared to goat’s milk)
Larger fat globules can take 2+ hours to digest (not always a ‘con’)
Another notable difference is that cow’s milk is more yellowish, and goat’s milk is pure white.
This is due to the way the animal processes beta carotene in the grass or hay she eats (yes, all animals that produce milk are girls - no gender confusion on the farm ;)
Cow’s milk contains beta carotene, making their cream and butter yellow.
Goat’s bodies convert the beta carotene into Vitamin A, making their milk, cream, and butter pure white.
My personal favorite is our cow’s milk. I like goat’s milk, but it’s just “OK” to me.
But, here are my favorite recipes that I prefer to use goat milk..
Coffee Cream
Cajeta (caramel sauce)
Chevre or Bovre (I love both!)