What mammals' milks are drunk by humans?
I'd like to make an exhaustive list of the various animals whose milk humans drink. Here's the ones I can think of:
- human
- cow
- goat
- sheep
- camel
- yak
- buffalo
- donkey/ass
Any others? If so, where?
Best Answer
Add to this answer... Who and where, what it tastes like, how it differs, how it's used in cooking...
Human
Where: Worldwide
Uses: Nursing
Cow
Where: Most common source of dairy worldwide
Uses: All dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt, etc.)
Goat
Where: India, Bangladesh, Africa, France, common across Europe.
Uses: Milk, cheese
Sheep
Where: Across Europe
Uses: Primarily cheese
Camel
Where: Middle East
Uses: Milk
Note: Camel milk can be an important source of water in extremely arid climates or survival situations. The milk can have a salty taste due to camels' high consumption of sodium.
Yak
Where: South East Asia, Mongolia, Northern China, Tibet, Nepal
Uses: Milk, Cheese, and butter; localized dairy products such as dahi, paneer
Water Buffalo
Where: India, Parts of the Middle East, Southeast Asia, China, South America, Europe (best known in Italy and throughout the Balkan states)
Uses: Milk, yogurt, cheese (mozzarella and others), candy
Note: Water Buffalos are the 2nd most common source of dairy in the world.
Horse
Where: Mongolia
Uses: Kumis (lightly alcoholic fermented drink)
Donkey / Ass
Where: Mediterranean countries
Uses: Milk, yogurt, cosmetic and medical use
Reindeer / Caribou
Where: Scandinavian countries, Mongolia
Uses: Cheese, Butter
Note: Reindeer milk is 22% butterfat and produces extremely rich cream cheese which Lapplanders sometimes use in coffee rather than regular cream.
Moose
Where: Russia and Sweden
Uses: Milk, limited cheese production
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Do any other mammals drink milk as adults?
So when it comes to mammals, we are the only species that drinks milk directly from other species, or we are the only one that does so in adulthood. Most juvenile animals can drink and digest their mother's milk because they carry the enzyme lactase, which digests lactose.What other animals milk is collected and consumed by humans?
Humanity continued to domesticate additional species of animals; throughout history, many species have been utilized for their milk including camels, cows, goats, sheep, donkeys, horses, water buffalo, reindeer, and other mammals.Which mammal milk is closest to human milk?
The most similar in composition to human milk is horse and donkey milk. It contains considerably more whey proteins (35-50%) than cow milk (about 20%), and the concentration of the most allergenic casein fraction \u03b1s1 is 1.5-2.5 g/l.Are humans the only mammals that drink milk?
Diana - As far as we know, humans are the only animals to drink another species milk regularly, but only a small proportion of humans have the lactase enzyme. Cats and dogs are often seen taking delight in a serving of milk, though I'd rather not consider the consequences.More answers regarding what mammals' milks are drunk by humans?
Answer 2
Oh, I just remembered one more (don't worry, I'll edit it into a index when we seem done). Horse. Popular in Mongolia I believe.
Answer 3
Donkey milk is missing from the list.
Answer 4
We drink the milk of walruses and elephants.
Answer 5
Monkey milk is popular in central America.
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