Potential applications of non-bovine mammalian milk in infant nutrition

Consumption of milk from non-bovine species is primarily a feature of developing countries, where other lactating animals have been found to serve the local population with adequate supplies of milk within the prevailing terrain, climate, and culture. The most important non-bovine milk in society is, of course, the milk produced by human females. Most commonly, the chosen alternative is an infant milk formula (IMF) based on bovine milk. Certain types of non-bovine mammalian milk have also attracted interest for their potential in infant nutrition, due to some characteristics that they share with human milk. This chapter presents an overview of infant formula and identifies mammalian milk types that are closer in composition to human milk than bovine milk. In the manufacture of all product formats, IMFs are subjected to a process designed to ensure a final product that is safe to consume, contains appropriate levels of essential nutrients, and is stable over its stated shelf-life.