Goats Got A2 Milk

When the first Nubian dairy goats arrived on our farm more than three decades ago, I knew goat milk tastes much like cow milk, only it’s easier to digest. The usual explanation for the easier digestibility is the smaller fat globules in goat milk compared to the larger fat globules in cow milk. Since then, the discovery that goat milk contains A2 protein (hence called A2 milk), while most industrial cow milk contains A1 protein (A1 milk), has entered the picture.

The Devil in the Milk

In 2007, Keith Woodford, a professor of farm management and agribusiness at New Zealand’s Lincoln University, wrote a book called Devil in the Milk: Illness, Health, and the Politics of A1 and A2 Milk. This book discusses digestibility and other issues related to milk produced by industrial cows, compared to the milk of most other mammals, including goats.

Put in a nutshell: Milk protein consists of whey (18%) and casein (82%). Casein comes in different types, one of which is β-casein, which in turn comes in several forms. The most common β-casein forms are A1 and A2 — named after to the order in which they were discovered.

Originally all mammals produced A2 milk. Some 8,000 years ago, a natural single-gene mutation occurred in European Holsteins. As a result they produce milk containing A1 casein. Since Holsteins are crossed with other breeds to increase milk production, many Western dairy breeds now produce milk containing both A1 and A2 casein.

As Woodford explains, the two types of casein digest differently. During digestion A1 milk releases small chains of amino acids, or peptides, called beta-casomorphin7 (BCM7). The “casomorphin” part derives from caso (casein) and morphin (morphine).

That’s right — it’s an opioid!

What this means in terms of human health is not yet clear. During digestion, any BCM7 that flows from the gut into the blood could possibly result in intestinal inflammation, digestive issues, allergic reactions, and other negative health effects.

A1 milk has been tentatively linked to type 1 diabetes and heart disease, and more speculatively to schizophrenia, autism, and SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). Little significant research has been done to determine the exact nature of the connection between these conditions and A1 milk, primarily because the dairy industry has a vested interest in protecting the reputation of A1 milk.

Allergy, Lactose Intolerance, or A1 Reaction?

What is becoming increasingly clear, however, is that people who believe they are either allergic to milk or lactose intolerant may simply be unable to digest A1 protein. In short, many people who have an unpleasant reaction to cow milk are able to drink A2 milk without issues.

Although A2 cow milk is available throughout most of the United States, I still prefer the fresh wholesome milk from my dairy goats. Despite all the arguments favoring the health benefits of A2 goat milk and describing potential risks of A1 cow milk, to me the most compelling fact is this: Human breast milk is naturally A2, which makes A2 goat milk the more natural fit for humans.