Is raw goats milk as good for you as raw cow's milk?

[Wugmama]

It it a bit of a trick to get raw cow's milk in my area, although it can be done. I am in the process of trying. But wow, it is easy to get raw goat's milk. We just called someone for the first time yesterday about it and my husband was able to drive to pick it right up (about a 35 - 40 minute drive I think).

He was able to buy a gallon of raw milk in glass bottles, plus raw goat milk yogurt and butter! She even lent him a cooler to use to get it home! And we can come just about anytime to get more, just call first. She even took them to the barn to see the goats and there were a bunch of babies to my dd's delight.

We really like the taste of what we got. So I am wondering if I should still persue the raw cow's milk or just stick with the goat milk. It is for us adults as well as a 6 yr old, 2 yr old, and may be used to supplement for the 6 month old. We, including my two oldest, have previously been on rice milk.

I know I could read up on it, but thought I'd see what you wise mama's thought as we are new to TF.

Thanks,
Tracy

[Nikki98]

That sure is a nice goat farmer. Some believe in fact that goats milk is even a bit better than cows milk in that it is perhaps is easier to digest. The biggest thing I have heard about goat's milk is concerning the taste, but since you like the taste I suppose that isn't an issue. Enjoy!

[Pinky Tuscadero]

Goat milk is slightly closer to human milk so is supposed to be better for you tham cow milk. It was something to do with either the amount of salt or protein, I think.

[purple_kangaroo]

Goat milk is very healthy, and we tolerate it here much better than cow's milk. It does have a slightly different composition, and also different breeds and diets can produce differences in the milk. The vitamin and mineral amounts are different.

One nice thing is that goats don't get some of the diseases, like tuberculosis, that cows can get that are transferrable to humans. I think that's why there are so many more certified raw goat dairies than raw cow dairies in my area . . . raw goat milk is considered safer, and is probably easier to get a license for.

Here's a page comparing vitamin amounts in human, cow and goat milk with formula. And here's an article on goat vs. cow milk from the U.S. Goat Handbook.

According to Dr. Sears,

. . . goat's milk contains 13 percent more calcium, 25 percent more vitamin B-6, 47 percent more vitamin A, 134 percent more potassium, and three times more niacin. It is also four times higher in copper. Goat's milk also contains 27 percent more of the antioxidant selenium than cow's milk. Cow's milk contains five times as much vitamin B-12 as goat's milk and ten times as much folic acid . . .

The proteins and fat are quite different between goat and cow's milk (that's a large part of what makes goat milk more digestible), and goat milk has slightly less lactose.

[elleystar]

Goats milk is yummy! If it were me, I'd probably stick with that especially since it's so easily obtained for you. And the farmers sound really great!
One thing to consider-I'd ask if they test for CAE. (Caprine arthritic encephalitis.) Most people don't. Humans can't get it from drinking the milk (or any other way for that matter)-no worries there. But it CAN cause some weird symptoms in some people. My parents had to get rid of their few milk goats after a couple of years, once they figured out that was what was causing my mom's funky joint issues and other odd ailments. It would just be something reassuring to know!