Why are Humans the only mamals that continue drinking milk through their life?

Question

Most mamals drink milk from their mothers when they are born until they can fend for themselves and then they never drink milk again, so why do humans not do the same?

Answer 1

Wild and domesticated mammals, fed on mother's milk are weened at different ages. During the weening process, the young are taught how to catch prey or find sustainance (food) and water. The parent, who supplied milk after birth, stops lactating (producing milk). The young must adapt to other food sources or die.

The human female also feeds from the breast, until such time as she weens her child. Once she weens, her milk also dries up, in most cases. If she is stimulted sufficiently, as other female mammals can also be, she can continue to produce milk.

Humans domesticated cattle, goats and sheep, who's milk has been used as a nutritional supplement for centuries. Milk is easily produced from these other mammals which allowed it to become a staple of human existance.

When other mammals are weened, the mother's milk dries up. She may begin to reproduce milk after becoming pregnant with a new offspring. Once broken, it is rare that a mother will allow an older sibling back to her teet, to do so would be to jeopardise the life of the newborn.

There are examples that cats, dogs, pigs and cows among others have allowed elder siblings to return and suckle, but for the most part, they do not, again, it is a simple matter of life and death.

Since man has the ability to domesticate other mammals, he has chosen to make milk a dietary staple. It might be the same for other mammals if they too had the ability to domesticate other species.

I hope this helps

Answer 2

It's because humans have figured out ways to get milk from other mammals and put it into containers.
Many other mammals will drink milk if somebody pours it into their bowls; and it is nutritious for them too, in moderation. Even some birds will drink milk if they can get it.
But once they are past the age of nursing, most mammals have no way to get milk for themselves.

Answer 3

People need a source of calcium.

People like convienence and taste.

They rather get calcium from milk/yogurt/cheese then from a wide variety of greens and fruit and such (which IS possible).

Our bodies weren't made to process milk (besides that of our own mother).. that's why the majority of people show signs of lactose intolerance. Milk's just loaded with saturated fats and also it's just harder for our bodies to break down.

Answer 4

possibly households that saved milk cows or goats chanced on that they could have a soft grant of a nourishing nutrients, while nutrients became into annoying to acquire at circumstances. Milk additionally presented cream, butter and cheese that have been possibly prized. via fact a farmer ought to grant extra milk than his kinfolk mandatory a 'milk marketplace' grew to alter into available. many that do no longer drink milk nonetheless earnings from milk in diverse cooked or baked recipes. Milk remains a sturdy source of calcium.

Answer 5

It's all about marketing. The national dairy counsel makes sure to continue to emphasize that we need milk for calcium purposes and it is the only acceptable liquid to have with cookies. In reality, you can get more calcium from a cup of broccoli than a cup of milk.

Answer 6

It's because humans are the only animal in this planet that have brains to find milk from other sources.

Answer 7

because we need calcium. This is also not a true statement. Cats drink milk all their lives and other primates will drink milk when given to them as well.

Answer 8

Because we like milk.

Answer 9

GOt milk?

Answer 10

Because we are special.