Cow milk v/s buffalo milk: what’s the difference anyway?

When it comes to the versatility of use, milk is probably right at the top of food and beverage products. Be it yoghurt, cheese or clarified butter, milk is the core ingredient for preparing these delicious and nutritious products. Moreover, milk is an essential food for the growth and well-being of infants, children and adults as it is a rich source of naturally occurring calcium, vitamins and protein.

As people become more aware of options available to them, a key question doubt that has arisen is what is the difference between cow milk and buffalo milk. After all, both are varieties of the same substance but are there any differences between the health benefits both have to offer?

We looked into this matter! What we found was that, indeed, cow milk and buffalo milk and offer unique benefits and flavour. 

Difference between cow milk and buffalo milk

1. Texture and nutritional contents

While cow milk consists of lower fat content and has a light texture, buffalo milk is creamier and thicker. Therefore, this makes cow milk easier to digest. With regard to protein content, buffalo milk has more of it than cow milk, whereas, cow milk tends to have a higher water content as compared to buffalo milk. Even the calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium content is higher in buffalo milk, whereas cow milk has a higher vitamin content. The colour of cow milk is yellowish-white, while buffalo milk is creamy white as the beta- carotene pigment gets converted to colourless vitamin- A, which makes buffalo milk slightly less yellow than cow milk. 

2. Usage and preservation

Buffalo milk is known for making better cottage cheese and desserts due to its thicker texture as compared to cow’s milk, which is lighter and watery. With regard to preservation, buffalo milk can be stored for longer durations as it has high peroxidase activity, while cow milk has to be consumed within 1-2 days. 

3. Health benefits

Beta-lactoglobulin and potassium content in buffalo milk is known to help reduce high blood pressure. With regard to cholesterol levels, buffalo milk contains a lower amount of cholesterol than cow milk, hence, it is a preferred choice for people suffering from diseases like PCOD, hypertension, kidney ailments and obesity. Buffalo milk has a high nutritional value, be it protein, vitamins, and minerals, as compared to cow’s milk and antioxidant protection, which improves bone and heart health. However, this also makes its contents high in fat, lactose and calories compared with cow’s milk. 

So, it is apparent that both types of milk are good for health and have their own unique texture and benefits. What is important is that you make it a point to include milk in your daily diet, depending on your health conditions and preference!