Cow, goat, sheep: Which animal’s milk is best for you?

Compared to cow's milk, sheep's and goat's milk are easier to digest as they contain different levels of fat. — dpa

Cow’s, goat’s and sheep’s milk not only differ in taste, but also in nutritional value.

The different types of dairy milk contain different levels of fat, for example.

”Compared to cow’s milk, the fats in sheep’s and goat’s milk are easier to digest,” says Silke Noll, a nutrition expert from a German consumer advice centre.

Cow’s milk contains more long-chain fatty acids, which are more difficult for the intestine to absorb.

The human stomach has an easier time with short- and medium-chain fatty acids, which are more abundant in sheep’s and goat’s milk.

Sheep’s milk has the highest fat and protein content and is therefore also the highest in calories.

It contains comparatively high levels of calcium and vitamins A and E, according to the consumer advice centre.

If you have trouble tolerating cow’s milk, you may be able to drink milk from goat or sheep.

This is the case if you are allergic to the animal-specific whey protein – which is found in cow’s milk.

However, if you cannot tolerate the protein casein, goat’s and sheep’s milk are not an alternative either as it is present in all three types of milk.

The level of lactose, meanwhile, is quite similar in all varieties. If you suffer from lactose intolerance, you should consume no or only small amounts of cow’s, sheep’s or goat’s milk, according to the consumer advisors. – dpa