Goat Milk
What is goat milk?
Goat milk is milk from dairy goats. Like cow milk, it is made up of water, milk fat, milk proteins, lactose, vitamins and minerals. It is drunk on its own and used to make yogurt, cheese, kefir and other cultured dairy foods across much of the world.
In Canada, goat dairy is a small category compared with cow dairy, and fresh local options can be hard to find — especially outside major cities. That is the gap Friendly Goat Dairy is being built to fill in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario.
What does goat milk taste like?
Fresh, well-handled goat milk tastes clean, mild and slightly sweet, with a gentle tang at the finish and a soft mouthfeel. The strong flavour some people remember usually comes from milk that was older or handled warm.
More on goat milk flavour and what changes it.
Goat milk nutrition
Goat milk is a dairy food that supplies protein, milk fat, calcium and a range of vitamins and minerals, in amounts broadly comparable to cow milk with some differences in individual nutrients.
For specific values, Health Canada's Canadian Nutrient File is the reference we use. We will publish nutrition information for our own products only once they are finalised, tested and labelled to Canadian requirements — not before.
Goat milk vs cow milk
The two milks are more similar than different. The differences worth knowing:
- Protein: the balance of casein types differs, which affects culturing and cheesemaking.
- Fat: goat milk fat globules are on average smaller.
- Flavour: fresh goat milk is mild and slightly sweet with a light tang.
- Availability: cow milk is everywhere in Canada; fresh goat dairy is not.
We do not claim goat milk is nutritionally superior to cow milk. Both are good dairy foods. Read the full comparison.
Does goat milk contain lactose?
Yes. Goat milk contains lactose, the natural sugar found in all mammalian milk. Goat milk is not lactose-free.
Goat milk is also not hypoallergenic, and it is not a substitute for medical advice or a treatment for a cow milk allergy or digestive condition. If you have a diagnosed allergy or intolerance, speak with your doctor or a registered dietitian before changing what you drink. Read more about lactose in goat milk.
Goat Yogurt
What is goat yogurt?
Goat yogurt is goat milk fermented with live yogurt cultures. The cultures convert lactose into lactic acid, which acidifies the milk, thickens it and gives yogurt its characteristic tang.
How goat yogurt is made
- The milk is standardised and heat treated.
- It is cooled to the temperature the cultures need.
- Live cultures are added and the milk ferments.
- Fermentation is stopped by cooling at the target acidity.
- The yogurt is packaged, set or stirred, spoonable or drinkable.
Read more about how goat yogurt is made.
Goat yogurt vs other yogurts
Plain goat yogurt tends to be lighter and softer-set than plain cow yogurt, because the protein balance in goat milk forms a more delicate gel. Strained styles such as Greek yogurt are thicker because whey has been removed, and plant-based “yogurts” are a different category of food altogether rather than a cultured dairy product.
What is drinkable goat yogurt?
Drinkable goat yogurt is cultured goat milk finished to a thinner, pourable consistency so it can be drunk rather than spooned. It is the same fermentation as spoonable yogurt, handled differently after culturing.
Using Goat Dairy
Cooking with goat milk
Goat milk substitutes for cow milk by volume in most home cooking: porridge, pancakes, custards, béchamel and smoothies. Keep the heat moderate, as with any milk, to avoid scorching and to keep the flavour clean.
Cooking with goat yogurt
Cultured goat products bring a brighter tang that works well in dressings, marinades, dips and cold soups. Stir yogurt into hot dishes off the heat to keep it from splitting.
Storage
Treat goat milk and goat yogurt like any other fresh dairy: keep them refrigerated, closed, and away from the fridge door where the temperature swings most. Health Canada recommends a refrigerator at 4 °C or below for perishable foods. Always follow the storage instructions and best-before date on the package you buy.
Recipes
Recipes using goat milk and goat yogurt will appear in the Recipes category of our Learn section as we publish them.
Common Questions
Does goat milk contain lactose?
Yes — see the lactose section above. Goat milk is not lactose-free.
Is goat milk safe for a cow milk allergy?
We do not make that claim. Cow milk allergy is a medical condition and milk proteins are present in goat milk too — ask your doctor.
Is goat milk easier to digest?
People report different experiences, and we are not going to turn that into a health claim. Goat milk contains lactose and milk proteins.
How should goat dairy be refrigerated?
Keep it cold, closed and refrigerated at 4 °C or below, and follow the package instructions.
Can I buy Friendly Goat Dairy products yet?
Not yet. Our products are in development. Join the waitlist for updates, or read the full FAQ.
Keep reading
Goat milk
- Goat Milk vs Cow Milk: What's the Difference?
- Does Goat Milk Contain Lactose?
- What Does Goat Milk Taste Like?
Goat yogurt
We add deeper articles in the Learn section as we publish them, covering goat milk, goat yogurt, nutrition, recipes and our own dairy.