Is goat milk better for the environment than cow milk?

Question

Dont goats eat a lot of stuff that cows dont, and so doesn't making cow milk take up more environmental resources because you have to grow specialty crops to feed them?

Answer 1

Goat milk is better for the environment. Because goats can live off eating our garbage, and they make good milk. So we could use them to clean up nasty places and then reap the benefits of yummy milk.

Answer 2

What the animal eat will affect how the milk taste. A cow that eat "Bitterweed", I not sure of the name, gives bad milk. A cow that eat clover or Bermuda grass will give a sweet milk. Something along those lines. When the milk is picked up it is tested for "Fat" (Cream) content. The more cream, the more it worth. Usually all milk is processed in a mix this help alleviate any bad milk as it mixed with the sweet. This why, some brands may actually taste better than others. Most farmers/ranchers have fields the cow graze and then they cut hay for winter. Then the cow is supplemented with grain.
Goat milk will work the same as far as feed, for the milk to taste good. But, goat milk is actually better for babies. It a good business to produce goat milk for Hospitals as they prefer this for babies. I think it less allergic, not sure.
But, I would assume they both similar as far as environment. Both need good quality grasses and grains to produce a sweet milk. True a goat will eat anything, but, that not mean it will produce quality milk with a high cream content.

Answer 3

I don't know who releases more methane gas --but I do know that goats are much easier on the land itself. It's hooves are like that of a deer and are designed not to destroy the land . They will also eat a plant to the ground but will not uproot it so therefore it has the ability to grow back.

For the average person goats are easier to keep because they demand much less land than a cow therefore you can produce your own milk, cheese, etc on just an acre or two--most people don't have the land or resources to support cows. Keep in mind if you are producing your own dairy products you are also controlling what goes into them such as hormones and chemicals. You can choose to be organic.

Answer 4

This question is like 6 of one; half dozen of the other........goats and cows are both grazers, eating similar things....size and quantity of milk would have to be taken into consideration...goat milk is much richer with a much higher fat content...as for you stating about the specialty crops? You might want to do your homework on raising these animals.

Answer 5

You are correct-

Goats are becoming popular in fighting fires by grazing on hill-sides where cows can`t.

Man has taken over the Natural World, and done a bad job! Grazing Animals used to roam, now we have removed them from the World and put them in"Animal Prisons" (Dairies) that promote ill-heath by feeding them food that they never had in the Wild.

All in the name of "control"

Even in Africa, they are trying to limit the area that Elephants can graze, because Man wants the Land to produce Money-Making Crops, like the Narcotic "Khat".

Man (and some answerers here) does not understand the delicate balance of Nature, that has evolved over millions of years (and for our Christian friends-the Plan that God gave to the World when He Created it-) Our "Dominion" comes with a price-Knowledge of Right and Wrong!

Not all Milk needs to be consumed in a fresh state, much is processed into Cheese, Yogurt, and other foods that remove any unpleasant taste ( so all you boo hoo babies can stop crying over bitter Milk ).

So, again, you are correct-Go Goats!

(plus they are good on the Barby! Mate!)

/!\

Answer 6

actually cows methane (flatulance/) cuses a lot of greenhouse gases so an audit would need to be done on flatulance comparison between goats and cows.

I imagine goats are a lot more environmentally friendly for the environment, I am not sure for nutrients though.

Anyway we don't really need cow milk as being able to tolerate milk is a genetic mutation of humans due to generations of cattle farmers, this is also why asian people often can't drink milk.

Answer 7

Cow are not natural animals they are man made ,
their big feet and weight compacts the ground and raises the salt to the surface and they overgraze plants right to the roots turning huge territories into desserts ,
in some places 10 hectares are needed to feed one cow .

Goats also eat leaves from the trees and are much closer to wild animals ,their hooves are small and pointed and they weigh far less.

Answer 8

well, for one thing, goat milk is richer in protein and fiber than cow milk...and maybe people are more allergic to cows milk is becuz people feed cows who knows what these days. i have a friend who has goats and thats the only kind of milk he drinks! matter of fact, he quite enjoys it!

Answer 9

goat doesn't produce enough milk , and most people don't like the taste of goat milk, either

cheeses, butters are made of cow's milk

through out the history, people have learned that it is better to raise cows instead of raising goats for their mlik

Answer 10

Cows eat alot of grass and are also fed pellets etc. Goats eat anything, including your clothes, therefore I would rather drink cows milk as it must be purer, especially if it's organic. Not sure about the environmental issue though.