Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Indian woman breastfeeds orphaned calf







This is an important story because it is an opportunity to point out the differences between human and cow milk. Did you notice how thin the calf is? Here is why this woman's gift will not really be a blessing for the calf:
The milk we find so readily available at the market, is created by a mother cow for the sole purpose of feeding its own offspring. This milk is formulated to help the calf grow into a 1,000-2,000 pound adult cow.  The saying, “Milk builds strong bones” is true in the respect that, at birth, milk is the main (and only) source of nutrition their body receives.

“Cow’s milk is intended to double the weight of the calf in 6 to 8 weeks, whereas a child requires 6 to 7 months to double its weight.” –Dr. N.W. Walker

... A mother’s milk is specifically designed to nourish it’s own offspring. ... A cow’s milk contains 300% more casein than a human mother’s milk, making it unfit for human consumption. - diaryofanutritionist

And if you turn the next bit around, this calf will be getting too much vitamin E, too much iron, and too many fatty acids.  The calf will also not be getting enough protein, sodium and potassium.
All mammal species produce milk, but the composition of milk for each species varies widely and other kinds of milk are often very different from human breast milk. As a rule, the milk of mammals that nurse frequently (including human babies) is less rich, or more watery, than the milk of mammals whose young nurse less often. Human milk is noticeably thinner and sweeter than cow's milk.

Whole cow's milk does not contain sufficient vitamin E, iron, or essential fatty acids, which can make infants fed on cow's milk anemic. Whole cow's milk also contains excessive amounts of protein, sodium, and potassium which may put a strain on an infant's immature kidneys. In addition, the proteins and fats in whole cow's milk are more difficult for an infant to digest and absorb than the ones in breast milk. - wiki

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