Is Goat's Milk Better Than a Formula Supplement?

Benefits of Goat's Milk

Goat's milk does not require homogenization like cow's milk. Goat's milk contains higher concentrations of calcium, iron, copper, selenium, Vitamin B6, niacin, and potassium than cow's milk. Also, the fats in goats milk are more digestible than those in cow's milk.

Formula Supplements Offer Better Nutrition

Goat's milk does not contain sufficient levels of iron, folic acid or vitamin B12 to meet infant nutritional needs. While formula supplements can have a base of either cow's milk or goat's milk, they are also fortified to provide the nutrition that growing infants require. Consider soy-based formula supplements for infants who are lactose intolerant. Mothers seeking to supplement their breast milk will not achieve sufficient nutritional supplementation by selecting another milk to augment their own.

Bottom Line

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that infants and children under the age of one year not be given either cow's milk or goat's milk. Goat's milk places stress on an infant's kidneys due to its high renal solute load. When fed to infants in their first month of life, goat's milk causes a medical condition known as metabolic acidosis, which can be fatal, depending on severity.

References

• USDA: Infant Formula Supplements
• Parenting.com: Ask Doctor Sears
• The New York Times: Metabolic Acidosis