How to make a nourishing homemade goat milk baby formula that mimics human breastmilk as closely as possible.
I nursed all 3 of my children exclusively until they started solid foods. In addition, I practiced extended breastfeeding, nursing each of my first two children for 2 years and the youngest for 4 years. I only used homemade formula occasionally such as after surgery.
I adored every. single. minute.
Nursing my children was a glorious experience the memories of which I will cherish forever!  I’m sure most breastfeeding mothers would report the same.
The topic of homemade formula, even the more widely accepted goats milk formula, is a highly charged and controversial subject. In reality, it is a very important option for women to consider and have available who are not able to have a breastfeeding relationship with their baby.
This is because unpasteurized, donor breastmilk is not always available from reputable sources and in sufficient quantities to meet a baby’s growing appetite. A friend of mine is dealing with this very situation right now with her adopted daughter.
While she does her best to secure quality donor milk, the truth is that it isn’t enough, and she must supplement. Her first choice depending on local farm availability is formula made with raw goats milk as it seems to be digested a bit better by her baby.
Of course, all brands of commercial formula even if organic are best avoided if at all possible. The graphic above summarizes the problems with commercial formula quite succinctly.
Why Goat Milk is Healthy for Baby Formula
With commercial formula best avoided and relying solely on donor breastmilk a risky proposition, the homemade formula becomes an option well worth consideration.
But why goats milk formula in particular?
The reasons could be as simple as the availability of goat milk versus cow milk. The homemade formula is best made with a clean source of raw milk and some parts of the country have raw goat milk far more readily available than raw cow milk.
Another reason could be the digestibility of the formula. The natural homogenization of the fat globules and different structures of the goat milk proteins do make it easier to digest for some babies.
If a baby has trouble with a homemade formula made from raw grass-fed cow milk, for instance, then the next best option would indeed be goats milk formula.
I always suggest to mothers to try homemade formula made with cow milk first.
This is because although goat milk is wonderfully rich in brain-building fats, it must be used with caution in infant feeding.
Unlike cow milk, goat milk lacks folic acid and is low in the nutrient vitamin B12 both of which are critical to the proper growth and development of a baby.
Fortunately, if goats milk formula does indeed become the necessary choice, the inclusion of small amounts of nutritional yeast and organic grated or desiccated liver in the formula easily remedies this dilemma.
Infant Formula?
Below is the recommended recipe for goats milk formula as published by the Weston A. Price Foundation and originally published in the cookbook Nourishing Traditions in 1996.
I personally know at least a dozen women who have used this recipe with great success when raw grass-fed cow milk was either unavailable or did not digest well for their baby.
*You can order all of the required ingredients for the homemade baby formula in one easy package from Radiant Life by clicking here.
Because the goat formula contains liver powder, be sure to use bottle nipples that are designed for thicker flowing liquids. You can get them here.
Homemade Goat Milk Formula Recipe
A nourishing homemade goat milk formula made from goat milk, yogurt or kefir devised and tested by Dr. Mary Enig that matches the nutritional profile of breastmilk as closely as possible.
Ingredients
- 2 cups raw goat milk OR whole goat milk yogurt
- 1 7/8 cup filtered water
- 1/4 cup liquid whey
- 4 Tbl goat lactose
- 1/4 tsp bifidobacterium infantis powder
- 2 Tbl raw or pasteurized cream
- 1/2 tsp cod liver oil unflavored
- 1/4 tsp butter oil unflavored
- 1 tsp sunflower oil preferably organic
- 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil preferably organic
- 2 tsp virgin coconut oil preferably organic
- 2 tsp nutritional yeast
- 2 tsp raw chicken liver OR 1/4 tsp desiccated liver powder
- 2 tsp gelatin
- 1/4 tsp acerola powder
- 1 tsp molasses optional
Instructions
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Fill a 2 cup Pyrex measuring cup with filtered water and remove 2 tablespoons (this will give you 1 7/8 cup water).
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Pour about half the water into a pan and turn burner on medium.
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Add the gelatin and lactose and let dissolve, stirring occasionally.
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When gelatin and lactose are dissolved, remove pan from heat and add the rest of the water to cool.
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Stir in the coconut oil and butter oil until melted.
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Put remaining ingredients in a glass blender. Be sure to use only liquid whey and never powdered whey from making cheese as it will curdle the goat milk formula.
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Add the water mixture and blend for about 3 seconds.
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Pour goats milk formula into glass baby bottles or a large glass jar and refrigerate.
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Before giving to baby, warm glass bottle in a pan of hot water or a bottle warmer (I like these). Never microwave baby bottles!
Recipe Notes
Do not substitute pasteurized milk or goat milk powder as these are heavily processed, denatured and allergenic foods. You may use plain, whole milk goat kefir or homemade goat yogurt in place of the milk portion of the milk if raw goat milk is not available in your area. Whole Foods has a quality brand of goat milk kefir available.Â
Cow lactose may be substituted for the goat lactose.
Do NOT use ultrapasteurized (UHT) cream. It is highly allergenic. Raw or pasteurized cream is acceptable.
Use only organic, unrefined, low oleic, cold pressed sunflower oil for this recipe. The brand linked to in the ingredients list is recommended.
The raw chicken liver should be frozen for 14 days or longer as recommended by the USDA for safe consumption. Â It is easiest to grate raw liver when it is frozen! Alternatively, 1/4 tsp of raw, desiccated liver powder may be substituted (find it here).Â
Collagen powder may be substituted for the gelatin in a pinch (more on peptides in baby formula in this article).
Use the optional molasses only if baby has issues with constipation. Only use as needed.
Homemade Goat Milk Formula Video
Below is an instructional video I filmed for the Weston A. Price Foundation on how to prepare a homemade formula yourself. Â Enjoy!
More Information
Homemade Nondairy Baby Formula
Why Soy Formula Even if Organic is So Dangerous for Babies
Traveling with Homemade Baby Formula
Feeding an Adopted Baby Without Commercial Formula
State Threatens to Take Baby Over Homemade Goat Milk Formula
Goat Milk Versus Cow Milk
Sarah, would you please answer my question as to why you are recommending 1/2 teaspoon of the Rosita (high vitamin) cod liver oil in your recipe as oppose to the recipe on the Weston Price Foundation website which calls for 1 full teaspoon?
I don’t recommend 1/2 tsp of Rosita? Rosita is not recommended anywhere on this site in fact.
I’m using the Rosita brand . Is this brand considered high vitamin?
At 1/2 teaspoon, the CLO only provides 200 iu of vitamin D. The RDA for infants is 400iu. The recipe on the Weston Price Foundation states 1 teaspoon of CLO if not fermented. Please clarify.
Rosita is high vitamin. You would use the same dosage as the fermented. The fermented CLO is not higher in A/D than nonfermented high vitamin CLO brands.
In the recipe the amount of cod liver oil is 1/2 teaspoon. Is it 1/2 teaspoon for fermented cod liver oil? What is the amount for extra virgin cod liver oil that is not fermented.
If the cod liver oil is high vitamin, the amount is the same even if extra virgin.
Hi Sarah. I apologize in advance for the multitude of questions that are about to follow. I would really appreciate your help as I trust your insight. I have recently switched my son from the raw cow’s milk formula to the raw goat’s milk formula in hopes of clearing up some small ezcema patches. My son can’t tolerate the nutritional yeast so I have to leave it out of the formula. Would I double the amount of liver from 2 teaspoons to 4 teaspoons of liver to compensate for the omitted nutritional yeast? I’d also appreciate if you would please share your thoughts on the amount of vitamin A in this formula. Is there too much vitamin A, with the dessicated beef liver powder from Radiant Life and the cod liver oil combined? I notice the recipe call for raw chicken liver or the dessicated liver powder. Does the chicken liver have to be raw? I am wondering if I would be able to feed my son chicken liver pate, about 2 tablespoons(1 ounce) instead of the raw grated liver/dessicated liver powder to provide the required B vitamins? This would also address the issue of the grated liver clogging the bottle nipple. I’m just not confident that the cooked liver pate would offer the same B vitamins as the raw grated liver.
Thank you for all your help.
Do not double the liver if you take out the nutritional yeast. Get nipples with larger holes if yours are clogging.
Hi Sarah, what is an alternative to raw goat milk? It is hard to buy ready-made goat kefir from Amazon (plus its $80 for a 6 pack which is very expensive) and also, I am in Australia. Would you recommend making my own goat kefir from a store bought brand? if so are there any strains in particular you recommend? thank you
Yes, making your own goat kefir or 24 hour yogurt would be fine. I would just get a good quality culture either live milk kefir grains from a friend (preferable). See the video so you don’t accidentally get water kefir grains instead. https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/video-correctly-identify-your-kefir/
If that isn’t an option, but kefir starter packets online. Here’s a good brand. https://amzn.to/2EFIu11
I am so interested in trying this. I went to that link you provided about buying the whole kit, but it doesn’t including the goat’s milk. I am assuming that is something I am going to buy on my own. How long would you say this takes to make every morning? My LO only drinks 24-26 oz a day since we are on soilds. I wanna buy the kitm bec I am scared I will buy the wrong items. I havent checked, but is there a video on how to make this lol
Yes, you have to source the goat milk on your own. There is a video here: https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/video-homemade-milk-based-baby-formula/
I was wondering if I made a larger batch to last me at least 2 days, how long is good in the freezer for emergency purposes? We go out of town here and there, I’m assuming I’ll be packing it in a cooler until we reach our destination is okay? We stay at hotels with fridges so I would be able to refrigerate it a majority of the time
Making a batch to last longer than 1-2 days is not a good idea. Yes, you can freeze some in breastmilk bags for emergencies.
i see…this is where I got it wrong. Thank you so much for your great advise Sarah!
HI Sarah, thank you so much for your help I have finally manged to gather the ingredients for the goat formula and made my first batch. My 4 month old likes it, however he is now experiencing some digestive issues and gas. i wonder if you may have some thoughts on that?
Did you transition all at once? There are lots of beneficial probiotics in the goat milk formula, and for a baby on commercial formula this can be a big change! You really should gradually transition a baby that young over a period of a week or two. You can mix the goat milk formula with whatever commercial formula you were using before and very slowly increase the proportion of goat milk formula until your baby digestive system adjusts.
I do not have access to bifidobacterium infantis powder, can I use an alternative (such as Advanced BioKult Probiotics).
Also, how much should I be giving my 4 month old per day – is there a risk of overfeeding him ? If I added extra cream, I assume he may stay full for longer , but would this mean he gets less nutrients for the day ( as the number of feedings may decrease)?
Please ONLY use the probiotic recommended and linked to above. You can ship the brand recommended worldwide. Biokult is not suitable for infants.