How Does Yak's Milk Differ From Cow's Milk?

A Milk Like No Other

Are you wondering whether there’s a healthier milk option than cow’s milk? Let’s examine one of the healthiest milk options there is. This is yak’s milk, and it’s been gaining in popularity in recent years.

A Robust Animal

Yaks are large, long-haired beasts with horns somewhat similar to a bison or ox. They evolved on the plateaus and steppes of Tibet and Central Asia, where people have been herding them for thousands of years for their supply of milk, meat, and wool. Due to their harsh environment, the animals evolved a very vitamin- and protein-rich milk to nurse their young. This is the key property of yak’s milk that makes it an alternative to cow’s milk.

person pours milk into glass Eiliv Aceron, Unsplash

A Long List Of Health Benefits

Yak’s milk has been shown to be richer than cow’s milk in a whole range of different beneficial nutrients, including protein, calcium, and vitamin D. It also contains a higher percentage of omega-3 fatty acids, an essential molecule for heart health. While cow’s milk also provides all of these nutrients to some degree, yak’s milk is generally considered to be more nutrient-dense than cow’s milk. It has also been found to have anti-oxidant effects. Yak’s milk is lower in lactose than cow’s milk, making it a potential option for those with lactose intolerance.

Taste

If you’re used to the taste of cow’s milk, get ready for something very different! Yak’s milk has a higher fat content (around 7% on average) and isn't normally sold in skimmed and partially-skimmed form like cow’s milk. The higher fat content gives yak's milk a much creamier, richer taste than regular cow’s milk.

white cow on brown field during daytime Sergio Capuzzimati, Unsplash

Availability And Pricing

Although yak’s milk is widespread throughout China, Mongolia, Tajikistan, and other Asian countries, there are few large herds of yaks in North America, which means that it might be hard to find the milk in your local supermarket. Not surprisingly, it’s also more expensive than cow’s milk.

Environmental Considerations

Because yaks are high-altitude free grazing animals, they have a much lower carbon footprint than modern industrial dairy farms. They require a lot less food and energy to sustain, which makes their milk a sensible choice for those who want to reduce their impact on the environment.

The Choice Is Yours

If you can reliably source yak’s milk, the only thing left for you to do is to try if for yourself. Yak's milk has sustained huge populations in Asia for thousands of years, and it’ll sustain you too if you like it!