Is Goat's Milk Nutritionally Superior to Cow's Milk?

There are some exaggerations about goat milk floating around in the literature of natural health. As someone who has raised both goats and cows, I can tell you that it is not the case that goats do not get parasites or infections. They actually tend to get more parasites and infections than cows, and they are more likely to be treated with antibiotics. That's why you should only buy organic goat's milk and goat's milk products.

That being said, goat’s milk is a highly nutritious food. The proteins in goat’s milk are more easily broken down that the proteins in cow’s milk, and less likely to cause allergic or autoimmune reactions. The proteins in cow’s milk have to be digested in the human gut for about three hours, but the proteins in goat’s milk can be digested in about an hour. A quicker digestion time means less time to cause lactose intolerance.

Goat’s milk does not contribute to the formation of mucus, and its medium-chain fatty acids inhibit yeast infections. It is a rich source of selenium. It tends to boost deficient immune reactions in the gut and to calm excessive ones. And although goat's milk can carry some of the same bacteria as cow's milk, bacteria both good and bad, goat's milk does not contain the Mycobaterium avium subspp. paratuberculosis (MAP) organisms.


Goat’s milk is also high in antioxidant selenium. Goat’s milk is a useful food. It’s just not a perfect food.