Goat's Milk

Tessa - posted on 07/28/2009

If only Australia was like that. Unfortunately the idea of organic is so far behind here that anything certified organic is usually at least twice the price!!

Certified Organic products and by products (such as milk) is not allowed the use of hormones, steroids, GM, or chemical farming practices. However, unfortunately the additives placed in these products afterward (not by the organic farmers themselves but the people they supply to) wouldn't exactly be called organic and many fellow hippies aren't too happy about it. Unfortunately, most governments still allow them under the certification laws and so they are passed as certified organic! This is what I mean by looking into everything when making a choice... even 'organic' products.

This is also why I will personally get my own goat as we practice organic standards on our 90 acres. We aren't 'certified because we aren't farming for profit but will be looking into this in the next few years.

Unfortunately our neighboring farmers don't farm organically so we have to be very careful of spray drift etc. We had to inform one of them that it was illegal to spray when the wind is blowing over our land and we have to make measures to stop water run off from his property coming onto our land.

This is all starting to lead a little off track now... maybe we should start an organic parenting thread?

--- - posted on 07/28/2009

where I live it is only a few dollars more per can for organic formula , so about $10 more per month Canadian dollars. 2 liters of goats milk here is $6.00. every store now carries organic formula including smaller grocery chains. our larger grogery chain has just started carrying the goats milk. for a child over 1 I would suggest goats milk with a multi vitamin because of the crap that is in cows milk, I am trying to get my family to cut down on cow products all together because I dont like the idea of hormones and all the chemicals. I am wondering if organic milk is any better but would have to investigate that further.

Tessa - posted on 07/28/2009

Wet nurses is true as I mentioned before (maybe too briefly), as is BM banks, didn't think of that!! good idea... BM bank is new here, we only have one and I believe it has a low supply, prioritized for premmies.
Check with local maternity hospitals as to availability. Always have an independent milk donor health checked for std's that can be passed through the milk and habits such as smoking, drugs and any other nasties that can be passed through.
Organic formula can be pricey.
My reply was also generalized, for others wishing for answers to the same question or similar.
Yes i read that in the study too...
I agree that if you can access organic formula without too much financial stress and are trusting enough of the government organic standards (I still double check) then this would be the way to go.
However if allergies aren't a problem then I believe goats milk is just fine given the right circumstances and used properly.

--- - posted on 07/28/2009

also something you may be interested in knowing is that although goats milk is easier to digest than cows milk does not mean that the child will not display an allergy to it. aside from a few minor differences with how the fat is distributed and "bunched" and the proteins present both cows and goats milk are similar in terms of allergens therefor if a child is allercig to cows milk he can still be allergic to goats milk. My advice would be to stick to an organic lacto free infant formula

--- - posted on 07/28/2009

tessa, you are aware that you can now purchase several varieties of ORGANIC infant formula. if this mom can not breast feed and does not want to use infant formula than she should check out BM banks and wet nurses. goats milk is fine after 1 yr of age but it is not recommended before 1 yr and neither is making your own formula because it will not match commercial formulas

Tessa - posted on 07/28/2009

Formula also contains GM ingredients, such as the soybean oils it contains and the soy lecithin emulsifiers. You'll be surprised to find that some of those vitamins and minerals they add to the formula are from a synthetic source.
Not to mention the fact that the cows milk it's made from is no doubt grown on chemical sprayed pastures, in cows that are pumped with steroids, antibiotics and many other nasty supplements including the GM grown feeds they are given during the dry periods of the year. GM genes from foods have been proven to stay in the guts of the animal fed them (including human), and reproduce there inside of your body... essentially turning you into a pesticide factory... No Thanks... Not for me or my family.
I would rather find a way around all that such as finding a natural supplement to add to goats milk. If a certified organic supplement cannot be found, this can probably be sourced by feeding a herbal tea that contains all the needed vitamins between feeds of goats milk, or possibly even feeding the goat these herbs so the nutrients can be found in the trace amounts needed in the milk. Of course consultation with an accredited herbalist is needed before changing.
Yes cows milk is not recommended for infants, but I do know that goats milk and goat milk formula is recommended when an infant is lactose intolerant (as they all are really) and cannot be fed on cows milk formula.
Humans in general weren't designed to drink cows milk at all but over many centuries we have somehow changed our bodies to accept it. Goats milk has been used for many thousands of years, since the days of Troy.
If organic milk can be found I would definitely choose this over polluting my babies body with toxins and synthetics. Hence why I am choosing to buy a goat in the case that breast milk fails. Breast is best but if it cannot be achieved, seriously look into what the options are including their sources, ingredients and effects on the body.
As to that research link I'd like to know how many associates and friends of stephanie clarke and anyone writing the sources she used are on the government health and food boards before I can trust what is written there. Being a university paper I have no doubt that it was government funded and therefor government influenced... Maybe even Monsanto influenced depending where they have their foot in the door on this one. Government can't be trusted...

--- - posted on 07/28/2009

no! goats milk is terrible for infants. formula is much better because it is designed for babies. goats milk is lacking SO MANY of the vital nutrients that an infant needs for proper brain development and healthy weight gain. Goats milk should not be used in children under 1 yr of age and neither should cows milk.
Please see this link which compares different milk for infants.http://www.saanendoah.com/compare.html

Stefanie - posted on 07/28/2009

Goat's milk is the closest to mother's milk. You can make your own formula with Goat's milk if you want. Dr. Sears has a recipe on his website. Just make sure you talk with you Ped. b/c you will need to add a Vit. Supplement.
If I had to use formula this is what I would do. Much healthier for baby and contains no toxins like formula does.

Tessa - posted on 07/27/2009

I am planning on getting a goat in case i problems breastfeeding my next child as I did with Hannah. After finding out what was in formula I completely regret having changed my daughter to formula when I had feeding problems. Goats milk is the closest animal milk to human milk and many cultures use it for their babies if they cant get a wet nurse. Many strong athletes in the andes were raised on goats and I mean ON goats, they literally suckled from the animals teats. I'm going to settle for glass bottles tho, to avoid the hormone disruptors used in plastic bottles. A couple good books are 'green baby" and 'nature's child'. I'll update you on the authors names when I remember what they are if you like.

Debbie - posted on 07/27/2009

I have heard the same thing. Not sure why it is better. My have some friends that raise goats for their milk.