The Energy Content of Goat Milk

Abstract

The energy value, fat, nitrogen, lactose, inorganic and total phosphorus, and total solids were determined on eighteen samples of goat milk collected in various stages of lactation. Comparisons were made between the determined energy value and that obtained by calculating from some constituents. It was found that the energy value could be estimated with considerable accuracy from either the protein, lactose and fat percentages or the percentage of total solids. The results show that for fat percentages between 3.5 and 5.5 the equation y = 39.618 + 9.564x gives energy values with considerable accuracy. If the percentage of total solids is known the equation y = 21.682 + 7.085x gives energy values nearly identical with the determined values. One pound of 4% goat's milk was found to have an average energy value of 342.28 calories in comparison to 343.66 calories for cow's milk.