Review on Goat Milk Composition and its Nutritive Value

Abstract

Goat milk is an important nutrient for humans, especially who have problem of lactose intolerance and sensitive to other animals’ milk. Goat milk is composed of different usable nutrients which are important to their young and humans. Among those important nutrients that are found in goat milk are fat, protein, lactose, vitamins, enzymes and mineral salts. Most of the components of goat milk are greater than that of other milk producing animals. For instance, goat’s milk contains 25% more vitamin B6, 47% more vitamin A and 13% more calcium than cow’s milk. However, available information concerning goat milk is mainly limited to data on its gross composition, and information on the nutritional quality of goat milk, especially important nutritional constituents are scarce. In addition, cultural beliefs challenge the reputation of the advantage of goat milk consumption and the development of the sector, especially in developing countries. Knowledge about the nature of goat milk is important to investigate the use of the goat milk to humans. Moreover, goat milk is also used as therapy against different problems including gastrointestinal disturbances, vomiting, colic, diarrhea, constipation and respiratory problems.