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
I’m in the process of weaning my 1 year old. Do you think it would it be better to switch him to goat milk formula or just plain goats milk? Thanks!
Hi there, I mistakenly ordered nutrional yeast powder by Frontier Natural. Can I use this or does it have to be flakes?
Can you use beef liver?
Yes … be sure to source organic and grassfed if at all possible.
Hi Sarah!
Thank you for the recipe!!
Can I order the ingredients individually? Or does it only come in a kit?
I live in Costa Rica a bit worried about the shipping
Is there a subtitute for the liver? We’re jewish and vegetarian there for it would be a bit complicated for our baby to consume
The gelatin would have to be fish source as well
Is it necessary ? And if yes do you have any idea where I can purchase some?
Thanks again!
Yes, the ingredients can be ordered separately from the same source where the kit is available. There is no sub for the liver. It is a very important ingredient for the formula.
Hi Sarah
I only have access to low temp pasteurized non homogenized goat milk. Is this ok?
Not for the homemade formula. The milk needs to be raw.
HI-I am a full time working mom and still pump. My baby is 7 months old and we started introducing foods. I produce about half of what he needs while at daycare. i wanted to give him a supplemt bottle during the day rather than taking a ton more supplemets to build my supply. Cant i just mix the powder with water as it says? do i have to do the recipe with all ingredients if he still gets breasmilk and food? why wouldnt just the powder and water work?
thanks for any help you can give.
hi. how long can this formula stay at room temperature after taking out of the fridge? thanks
Hi there! THank you for sharing this recipe. I know I hadn’t felt to good feeding my baby formula…so many things in it that just seem unnatural. My question is I had bought the meyenburg goat milk before I had even seen this..can I still use this exact same recipe with that? I can’t return it so might as well use it. Please let me know!! Thank you
Meyenburg goat milk is ultrapasteurized so definitely *cannot* be used for this formula. Goat milk must be raw.
So I can’t do absolutely NOTHING with the meyenburg ?
Since it is ultrapasteurized, best to skip it. Here’s an article on the dangers of ultrapasteurization: https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/organic-milk-healthfood-trojan-horse/
Hi
I have used this recipe for my 3 year old. We were able to get raw goats milk. We are now unable to get raw milk. We can get pastured goats milk from a farmer. Is it ok to use this? I do not want to use commercial formula
Culture the goat’s milk first into goat kefir or goat yogurt and use that in place of the fresh raw milk portion of the formula.
Thanks is it ok to freeze the formula?
Question: I am thinking of supplementing my breastmilk with goat’s milk. My son is 5 months old, just beginning to try a few solid foods, but my breastmilk supply is not growing with his uptick in demand. It won’t be long before I tap my breastmilk back stock and and I’ll be forced to give my sitter SOMETHING to supplement my baby’s breastmilk. Right now at the sitter, he eats about 12 oz per day, where I only am able to pump 9 oz during my work day (I’ve been trying lots of stuff to grow the supply, with no luck). Raw goat’s milk is available in my area, but I cannot access raw cows milk where I live. So…
Can I supplement my baby’s daily breastmilk intake with straight, raw goat’s milk? I would assume that I’m giving him enough folic and B12 by keeping up with all my breastfeeding (I also BF in the morning, evenings, and all night long, so I bet he eats 20-30 oz per day!)
If I must turn goat’s milk into the formula, I really don’t understand the liver part… wouldn’t that need to be cooked/cured/or something?? And if you “finely grate” it, won’t it come through as little floaty chunks of sweet meat in the liquid? Help me wrap my head around that…
Thanks!
Hi Donna, a baby under 1 year old really needs the formula if you are supplementing with it. You can use the desiccated liver powder if you like (see link in the post) … there won’t be chunks as it is very fine.