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Encyclopedia > Goat's milk
A glass of cow milk
A glass of cow milk

Milk most often means the nutrient fluid produced by the mammary glands of female mammals. The female ability to produce milk is one of the defining characteristics of mammals and provides the primary source of nutrition for newborns before they are able to digest more diverse foods. It is also processed into dairy products such as cream, butter, yogurt, ice cream, gelato, cheese, casein, whey protein, lactose, condensed milk, powdered milk, and many other food-additive and industrial products. Download high resolution version (600x800, 23 KB)Milk from WP-De - large (really) version This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Download high resolution version (600x800, 23 KB)Milk from WP-De - large (really) version This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... COW is an acronym for a number of things: Can of worms The COW programming language, an esoteric programming language. ... Cross section of the breast of a human female. ... Orders Subclass Multituberculata (extinct) Plagiaulacida Cimolodonta Subclass Palaeoryctoides (extinct) Subclass Triconodonta (extinct) Subclass Eutheria (includes extinct ancestors)/Placentalia (excludes extinct ancestors) Afrosoricida Artiodactyla Carnivora Cetacea Chiroptera Cimolesta (extinct) Creodonta (extinct) Condylarthra (extinct) Dermoptera Desmostylia (extinct) Embrithopoda (extinct) Hyracoidea Insectivora Lagomorpha Litopterna (extinct) Macroscelidea Mesonychia (extinct) Notoungulata (extinct) Perissodactyla Pholidota Plesiadapiformes... A human infant The word Infant derives from the Latin in-fans, meaning unable to speak. ... Dairy products are generally defined as foodstuffs produced from milk. ... Cream is a dairy product that is composed of the higher-fat layer skimmed from the top of raw milk before homogenization. ... Butter is commonly sold in sticks (pictured) or small blocks, and often served using a butterknife. ... Yoghurt Yoghurt or yogurt, less commonly yoghourt or yogourt, is a dairy product produced by bacterial fermentation of milk. ... Missing image Ice cream is often served on a stick Boxes of ice cream are often found in stores in a display freezer. ... Roman Gelato. ... Cheese is a food made from the curdled milk of cows, goats, sheep, buffalo or other mammals. ... Casein is the predominant phosphoprotein found in fresh milk. ... Whey protein is the name for a collection of globular proteins that can be isolated from whey, a by-product of cheese manufactured from cows milk. ... Lactose is a disaccharide that makes up around 2-8% of the solids in milk. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Powdered milk is a powder made from dried milk solids. ...


It can also be used to mean:

Human milk is fed to infants through breastfeeding, either directly or by the female expressing her milk to be saved and fed later. The early lactation milk is known as colostrum, and carries the mother's antibodies to the baby. It can reduce the risk of many diseases in both mother and baby. Binomial name Cocos nucifera L. The Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera), is a member of the Family Arecaceae (palm family). ... Kerala ((?); Malayalam: കേരളം — ) is a state on the tropical Malabar Coast of southwestern India. ... Polynesia is generally defined as the islands within the triangle Polynesia (from Greek: πολύς many, νῆσος island) is a large grouping of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. ... Soy milk (also called soymilk, soya milk, soybean milk, soy bean milk, soy drink, or soy beverage) is a milk-like product made from soybeans. ... Rice milk is a kind of grain milk processed from rice. ... Almond milk is a milky drink made from ground almonds, not unlike soy milk or rice milk. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Pigeon redirects here. ... Breast milk usually refers to the milk produced by a human female which is usually fed to infants by breastfeeding. ... An infant Infant is a slightly more formal word for baby, the youngest category of child. ... A breastfeeding infant Breastfeeding is the process of a woman feeding an infant or young child with milk from her breasts, usually directly from the nipples, a process called lactation. ... Colostrum (also known as beestings) is a form of milk produced by the mammary glands in late pregnancy and the first hours after giving birth. ... Schematic of antibody binding to an antigen An antibody is a protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects like bacteria and viruses. ...

Contents


Composition and nutrition

The composition of milk differs widely between species. Factors such as the type of protein; the proportion of protein, fat, and sugar; the levels of various vitamins and minerals; and the size of the butterfat globules and the strength of the curd are among those than can vary.[1] For example: A glass of milk Milk most often means the nutrient fluid produced by the mammary glands of female mammals. ... An image of Bok globules in the H II region IC 2944, taken with the WFPC2 instrument on the Hubble Space Telescope A Bok globule is a dark cloud of dense dust and gas in which star formation is taking place. ... Curd is a dairy product obtained by curdling (coagulating) milk with rennet or an edible acidic substance such as lemon juice or vinegar and then draining off the liquid portion (called whey). ...

  • Human milk contains, on average, 1.1% protein, 4.2% fat, 7.0% lactose (a sugar), and supplies 72 kcal of energy per 100 grams.
  • Cow's milk contains, on average, 3.4% protein, 3.6% fat, and 4.6% lactose, and supplies 66 kcal of energy per 100 grams.

Lactose in milk is digested with the help of the enzyme lactase. In humans, production of lactase can decline in adulthood, leading to an inability to digest milk; this is known as lactose intolerance. Most human populations (most notably Europeans) retain the ability to digest lactose into adulthood. The gram or gramme, symbol g, is a unit of mass. ... COW is an acronym for a number of things: Can of worms The COW programming language, an esoteric programming language. ... Lactose is a disaccharide that makes up around 2-8% of the solids in milk. ... Digestion is the process whereby a biological entity processes a substance, in order to chemically convert the substance into nutrients. ... Ribbon diagram of the enzyme TIM. TIM is catalytically perfect, meaning its conversion rate is limited, or nearly limited to its substrate diffusion rate. ... Lactase is a member of the β-galactosidase family of enzyme: enzymes that hydrolysis β 1,4 bonded attachments off of galactose. ... Lactase is a member of the β-galactosidase family of enzyme: enzymes that hydrolysis β 1,4 bonded attachments off of galactose. ... See Adult. ...


Cow's milk

In the Western world, cow's milk is extracted on an industrial scale for human consumption and industrial uses. It is the most commonly consumed form of milk. Dairy farming has become such a large business that in many countries the process is highly automated, with farmers using machines that attach directly to the teats of the cow's udder to speed milking, and breeds of cattle, such as Holstein, specially bred for increased milk production. Dairy farming is a class of agricultural, or more properly, an animal husbandry enterprise, raising female cattle for long-term production of milk, which may be either processed on-site or transported to a dairy for processing and eventual retail sale. ... A cow udder with 4 teats Teat is an alternative word for a nipple or breast. ... A cow udder with 4 teats An udder is the mammary organ of cattle and some other mammals, including goats and sheep. ... Binomial name Bos taurus Linnaeus, 1758 Cattle (called cows in vernacular usage, kine archaic, or ky as the Scots plural of coo) are domesticated ungulates, a member of the subfamily Bovinae of the family Bovidae. ... For other uses of the word, see Holstein Holstein Cows The Holstein, or Friesian as it is known in the UK, is a cattle breed used in dairy farming. ...


Male calves are a "useless byproduct" of the cow's enforced pregnancies and a drain on their mother's milk (intended for commerical human usage) are generally taken away for slaughter on birth or allowed a short period of suckling followed by veal crates. In veal crates they will be kept from developing muscle to provide tender flesh upon their slaughter. The farms only need one sperm donor or male bull so as with male chicks in chicken farming they serve little commercial purpose.


Commercial processing of milk

a cow-milking machine in action
a cow-milking machine in action

In North America a dairy facility processes milk and products obtained from milk (dairy products), such as cream, butter, and cheese. Most dairies are local companies, as opposed to large or nationwide companies found in the southern hemisphere. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2070x1760, 431 KB) gdgdgdfgsdg A cow milking machine Français Cette photo a été prise le 7 mars 2003 au Salon de lagriculture à Paris, France English This photo was taken on March 7, 2003 at the Salon de lagriculture... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2070x1760, 431 KB) gdgdgdfgsdg A cow milking machine Français Cette photo a été prise le 7 mars 2003 au Salon de lagriculture à Paris, France English This photo was taken on March 7, 2003 at the Salon de lagriculture... Dairy farm near Oxford, New York A dairy is a facility for the extraction and processing of animal milk (mostly from cows, sometimes from buffalo, sheep or goats) and other farm animals, for human consumption. ... Cream is a dairy product that is composed of the higher-fat layer skimmed from the top of raw milk before homogenization. ... Butter is commonly sold in sticks (pictured) or small blocks, and often served using a butterknife. ... Cheese is a food made from the curdled milk of cows, goats, sheep, buffalo or other mammals. ...


Upon standing, fresh milk has a tendency to separate into a high-fat cream layer on top of a larger, low-fat milk layer. The cream is often sold as a separate product with its own uses. In the United States, a blended mixture of half cream and half milk is often sold in smaller quantities and is called half-and-half. Half-and-half is used for creaming coffee and similar uses. Cream is a dairy product that is composed of the higher-fat layer skimmed from the top of raw milk before homogenization. ... Half and half is a dairy product that is a mixture of cream and cows milk. ...


Milk produced for commercial consumption usually undergoes several processes. Pasteurization kills many harmful microorganisms by heating the milk for a short time and then cooling it for storage and transportation. Pasteurized milk is still perishable and must be stored cold by both suppliers and consumers. Dairies print expiration dates on each container, after which stores will remove any unsold milk from their shelves. In many countries it is illegal to sell milk that is not pasteurized. Pasteurization (or pasteurisation) is the process of heating food for the purpose of killing harmful organisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, molds, and yeasts. ... Shelf-life is the length of time that corresponds to a tolerable loss in quality of a processed food. ...


Milk may also be further heated to extend its shelf life through ultra-high temperature treatment (UHT), which allows it to be stored unrefrigerated, or even longer lasting sterilization. Ultra-high temperature, or UHT, processing is the partial sterilization of food by heating it for a short time at a temperature significantly above 100°C, typically 135-140°C. The high temperature reduces the processing time, which reduces the danger of spoiling. ... Sterilization (or sterilisation) is the elimination of all transmissible agents (such as bacteria, prions and viruses) from a surface, a piece of equipment, food or biological culture medium. ...


Additionally, commercial milk is often homogenized. This mechanically reduces the size of the fat globules, so that they will not separate out into a cream layer. Creamline milk is unhomogenized; it may or may not have been pasteurized. Homogenization is a term used both in agricultural science and in cell biology. ...


Milk, sold commercially in countries where the cattle (and often the people) live indoors, commonly has vitamin D added to it to make up for lack of exposure to UVB radiation. Milk often has flavoring added to it for better taste or as a means of improving sales. Chocolate-flavored milk has been sold for many years and has been followed recently by such other flavors as strawberry and banana. Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that contributes to the maintenance of normal levels of calcium and phosphorus in the bloodstream. ... Note: Ultraviolet is also the name of a 1998 UK television miniseries about vampires. ... Flavouring (or flavoring) is a product which is added to food in order to change or augment its taste. ... Chocolate most commonly comes in dark, milk, and white varieties, with cocoa solids contributing to the brown coloration. ...


South Australia has the highest consumption of flavoured milk per person, where Farmers Union Iced Coffee outsells Coca-Cola, a success shared only by Inca Kola in Peru and Irn-Bru in Scotland. Emblems: Hairy Nosed Wombat (faunal); Sturts Desert Pea (floral); Opal (gemstone); Leafy Seadragon (marine) Motto: United for the Common Wealth Slogan or Nickname: Festival State Other Australian states and territories Capital Adelaide Government Governor Premier Const. ... The wave shape (known as the dynamic ribbon device) present on all Coca-Cola cans throughout the world derives from the contour of the original Coca-Cola bottles. ... Inca Kola is a very successful cola soft drink made in Peru. ... Irn Bru Irn Bru is the most popular caffeinated soft drink in Scotland. ... Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within Europe Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ...


Those preferring raw milk argue that the pasteurization process also kills beneficial microorganisms and important nutritional constituents. The resulting pasteurized product is said to contribute to its own indigestability, be less nutritious, and turn rancid (as opposed to sour) with age. Raw Milk Versus Pasteurized Milk Raw milk is milk that has not been processed via pasteurization (heating) or homogenization before consumption by humans. ... Pasteurization (or pasteurisation) is the process of heating food for the purpose of killing harmful organisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, molds, and yeasts. ... Rancidification is the decomposition of fats and other lipids by hydrolysis and/or oxidation. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...


Nutritional benefits

Milk began containing differing amounts of fat during the 1950's. A serving (1 cup or 250 ml) of 2%-fat milk contains 285 mg of calcium, which represents 22% to 29% of the daily recommended intake (DRI) of calcium for an adult, depending on the age, 8 grams of protein, and a number of other nutrients (either naturally or through fortification): General Name, Symbol, Number calcium, Ca, 20 Chemical series alkaline earth metals Group, Period, Block 2, 4, s Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 40. ... Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is the daily dietary intake level of a nutrient that is considered sufficient to meet the requirements of nearly all (97-98%) healthy individuals in each life-stage and gender group. ... The gram or gramme, symbol g, is a unit of mass. ... A representation of the 3D structure of myoglobin, showing coloured alpha helices. ...

  • Vitamins D and K - essential for bone health
  • Iodine - a mineral essential for thyroid function
  • Vitamin B12 and Riboflavin - necessary for cardiovascular health and energy production
  • Biotin and Pantothenic Acid - B vitamins important for energy production
  • Vitamin A - critical for immune function
  • Potassium and Magnesium - for cardiovascular health
  • Selenium - cancer-preventive trace mineral
  • Thiamine - B-vitamin important for cognitive function, especially memory
  • Conjugated linoleic acid - beneficial fatty acid that inhibits several types of cancer in mice, has been shown to kill human skin cancer, colorectal cancer and breast cancer cells in vitro studies, and may help lower cholesterol and prevent atherosclerosis; only available in milk from grass-fed cows

Studies show possible links between low-fat milk consumption and reduced risk of arterial hypertension, coronary heart disease, and obesity. Overweight individuals who drink milk may benefit from decreased risk of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. [2] Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that contributes to the maintenance of normal levels of calcium and phosphorus in the bloodstream. ... Vitamin K denotes a group of 2-methilo-naphthoquinone derivatives. ... General Name, Symbol, Number iodine, I, 53 Chemical series halogens Group, Period, Block 17, 5, p Appearance violet-dark gray, lustrous Atomic mass 126. ... Cobalamin or vitamin B12 is a chemical compound that is also known as cyanocobalamine. ... Riboflavin (E101), also known as vitamin B2 or vitamin G, is an easily absorbed, water-soluble micronutrient with a key role in maintaining human health. ... Biotin, also known as vitamin H or B7 and C10H16N2O3S (Biotin; Coenzyme R, Biopeiderm), is a water-soluble B-complex vitamin which is composed of an ureido ring fused with a tetrahydrothiophene ring. ... This article needs a complete rewrite for the reasons listed on the talk page. ... Retinol, the dietary form of vitamin A, is a fat-soluble, antioxidant vitamin important in vision and bone growth. ... General Name, Symbol, Number potassium, K, 19 Chemical series alkali metals Group, Period, Block 1, 4, s Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 39. ... General Name, Symbol, Number magnesium, Mg, 12 Chemical series alkaline earth metals Group, Period, Block 2, 3, s Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 24. ... SE redirects here. ... Thiamine mononitrate Thiamine or thiamin, also known as vitamin B1, is a colorless compound with chemical formula C12H17N4OS. It is soluble in water and insoluble in alcohol. ... Linoleic acid (LA) is an unsaturated omega-6 fatty acid with the molecular formula C18H32O2. ... Arterial hypertension, or high blood pressure is a medical condition where the blood pressure is chronically elevated. ... Coronary heart disease (CHD), also called coronary artery disease (CAD) and atherosclerotic heart disease, is the end result of the accumulation of atheromatous plaques within the walls of the arteries that supply the myocardium (the muscle of the heart). ... In medicine, insulin resistance denotes a decompensation of glucose homeostasis where the tissues appear to be less responsive to insulin. ... For the disease characterized by excretion of large amounts of severely diluted urine, see diabetes insipidus. ...


Claims of nutritional side-effects

Overconsumption of Cow's milk is argued to be unhealthy primarily due to its fat and cholesterol content. The following studies are used to support this position: This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Cholesterol chemical structure Cholesterol is a sterol (a combination steroid and alcohol) and a lipid found in the cell membranes of all body tissues, and transported in the blood plasma of all animals. ...

  • Some milk is rich in saturated fat, which studies have linked to increased risk of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. Low-fat and non-fat forms of milk may mitigate any such risk.
  • Some people have an incomplete ability to digest milk, lactose intolerance. For those individuals, milk may induce symptoms such as cramping, bloating, gas, and diarrhea. Certain ethnic groups may be more susceptible to these effects.
  • Critics dispute the claim that drinking large amounts of milk can reduce the risk of bone fractures, especially in the elderly. Studies have failed to associate high calcium intakes with lower risk of hip and forearm fractures in men[3] or women[4].
  • Critics of milk claim that plant-based sources of calcium are preferable, on the grounds that animal proteins in milk causes leaching or excretion of calcium from bones.[5] Such critics refute the claim that milk prevents osteoporosis and make the counterclaim that milk, in fact, contributes to that disease.
  • A study published in June 2005 of 9- to 14-year-old children found that children who reported drinking the most glasses of milk per day gained the most weight. However overall calorie intake was a better predictor of weight gain. Researchers were surprised by their conclusion that weight gain was associated with dietary calcium and low-fat or skim milk, but not dairy fat. A limitation of this study was that it was based on self-reported dietary intake, a method of known to be fraught with large biases even when used by adults.[6][7]
  • A February 2005 an epidemiological study found a correlation between acne and the consumption of milk, and other dairy products in high-school-age women.[8]. It has been suggested that this is linked to iodine and not restricted to milk. [9][10][11]
  • A study suggests a correlation between high calcium intake and prostate cancer.[12]. There is no evidence that any such problem is specific to milk. A review published by the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research states that at least 11 human population studies have linked dairy product consumption and prostate cancer.
  • Another source [13] claims, based on animal studies, that "casein, which makes up 87% of cow’s milk protein, promoted all stages of the cancer process."

Saturated fat is fat that consists of triglycerides containing only saturated fatty acids. ... Coronary heart disease (CHD), also called coronary artery disease (CAD) and atherosclerotic heart disease, is the end result of the accumulation of atheromatous plaques within the walls of the arteries that supply the myocardium (the muscle of the heart). ... This article is about muscular pain. ... Bloating is any abnormal general swelling, or increase in diameter of the abdominal area. ... Farting redirects here. ... Diarrhea (American English) or diarrhoea (Commonwealth English) is a condition in which the sufferer has frequent and watery, chunky, or loose bowel movements (from the ancient Greek word διαρροή = leakage; lit. ... 2005 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December- → Deaths in June June 27: Shelby Foote June 27: John T. Walton June 26: Richard Whiteley June 25: John Fiedler June 25: Chet Helms June 24: Paul Winchell June 21: Jaime Cardinal Sin June 20: Jack Kilby... Å…ÄŸ Prostate cancer is a disease in which cancer develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. ... The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) is a cancer research umbrella organization based in London, England. ... The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) is a large cancer research organisation in the USA. It is [a] cancer charity that fosters research on diet and cancer prevention and educates the public about the results. ...

Distribution

Glass milk bottles used for home delivery service
Glass milk bottles used for home delivery service
A brick of French UHT milk
A brick of French UHT milk

Because of the perishable nature of milk, expeditious distribution is desirable. In many countries milk used to be delivered to households daily, but economic pressure has made milk delivery much less popular, and in many areas daily delivery is no longer available. People buy it chilled at grocery or convenience stores or similar retail outlets. Prior to the widespread use of plastics, milk was often distributed to consumers in glass bottles, and before that in bulk that was ladled into the customer's container. In the UK, milk can be delivered daily by a milkman who travels his local milk round (route) using a battery-powered milk float, although this is becoming less popular as a result of supermarkets selling milk at lower prices. In New Zealand, milk is no longer distributed in glass bottles. Download high resolution version (500x610, 37 KB)Reusable glass milk bottles used for home delivery service. ... Download high resolution version (500x610, 37 KB)Reusable glass milk bottles used for home delivery service. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (403x602, 50 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Ultra-high temperature processing ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (403x602, 50 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Ultra-high temperature processing ... Ultra-high temperature, or UHT, processing is the partial sterilization of food by heating it for a short time at a temperature significantly above 100°C, typically 135-140°C. The high temperature reduces the processing time, which reduces the danger of spoiling. ... Plastic covers a range of synthetic or semisynthetic polymerization products. ... The material definition of glass is a uniform amorphous solid material, usually produced when a suitably viscous molten material cools very rapidly to below its glass transition temperature, thereby not giving enough time for a regular crystal lattice to form. ... A milkman is a person — tradtionally male — who delivers milk in milk bottles or cartons. ... A milk float in Liverpool city centre, June 2005 A milk float is a small electric vehicle, specifically designed for the delivery of fresh milk. ...


In the United States bottles were replaced with milk cartons, tall boxes with a square cross-section and a peaked top that can folded outward upon opening to form a spout. Now milk is increasingly sold in plastic bottles. First the gallon and half-gallon sizes were sold in plastic jugs while the smaller sizes were sold in milk cartons. Recently milk has been sold in smaller resealable bottles made to fit in automobile cup holders. A carton is a type of packaging, generally for food. ... A carton is a type of packaging, generally for food. ... An automobile is a wheeled vehicle that carries its own motor. ... A cup holder, as the name implies, is a device to hold a cup or other drinking container including an aluminum can. ...


The half-pint milk carton is the traditional unit as a component of school lunches. In the US, pictures of missing children were printed on the larger milk cartons as a public service until it was determined that this was disturbing to children.


Milk preserved by the UHT process is sold in boxes often called a "brick" that lack the peak of the traditional milk carton. Milk preserved in this fashion does not need to be refrigerated before opening and has a longer shelf life than milk in ordinary packaging. Ultra-high temperature, or UHT, processing is the partial sterilization of food by heating it for a short time at a temperature significantly above 100°C, typically 135-140°C. The high temperature reduces the processing time, which reduces the danger of spoiling. ...


Glass milk containers are rare these days. Most people purchase milk in plastic jugs or bags or in waxed-paper cartons. Ultraviolet light from fluorescent lighting can destroy some of the proteins in milk so many companies that once distributed milk in transparent or highly translucent containers are now using thicker materials that block the harmful rays. Many people feel that such "UV protected" milk tastes better. Ultraviolet (UV) light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than soft X-rays. ... A compact fluorescent lamp with an integrated electronic ballast A fluorescent lamp is a type of lamp that uses electricity to excite mercury vapor in argon or neon gas, resulting in a plasma that produces short-wave ultraviolet light. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... In optics, transparency is the property of being transparent, or allowing light to pass. ...


Milk comes in a variety of containers with local variants:

  • United States: Commonly sold in gallon, half-gallon and quart containers (U.S. customary units) of rigid plastic or, occasionally for sizes less than a gallon, waxed cardboard. The US single-serving size is usually the half-pint (about 240 ml).
  • Canada: A 1 1/3 litre plastic bag (sold as 4 litres in 3 bags) is the most common as bags are most economical[14]. Cartons of 2 litres, 1 litre, 500 millilitre, and 250 millilitre are also available, as well as 4 litre plastic jugs.
  • Parts of Europe: Sizes of 500 millilitres, 1 litre (the most common), 2 litres and 3 litres are commonplace.
  • United Kingdom: Most stores stock the equivalents of old Imperial sizes: 568 ml (1 pint), 1.136 l (2 pints), 2.273 l (4 pints), 3.408 l (6 pints) or, rarely, a combination including both metric and imperial sizes).
  • Australia and New Zealand: Distributed in a variety of sizes, most commonly in Tetra Paks for up to 1 litres, and plastic screw-top bottles beyond that. Most UHT-milk is packed in 1 litre paper containers with a sealed plastic spout.
  • South Africa: Commonly sold in 1 litre bags. The bag is then placed in a plastic jug and the corner cut off before the milk is poured.

Condensed milk is distributed in metal cans, 250 and 125 ml paper containers and 100 and 200 ml squeeze tubes, and powdered milk (skim and whole) is distributed in boxes or bags. The gallon (abbr. ... A quart is a unit of measurement for volume. ... U.S. customary units, commonly known in the United States as English units or standard units, are units of measurement that are currently used in the U.S., in some cases alongside units from SI (the International System of Units—the modern metric system). ... The millilitre (spelled milliliter in American English and German) is a metric unit of volume that is equal to one thousandth of a litre. ... Europe is conventionally considered one of the seven continents of Earth which, in this case, is more a cultural and political distinction than a physiographic one, leading to various perspectives about Europes borders. ... The Imperial units or the Imperial system is a collection of English units, first defined in the Weights and Measures Act of 1824, later refined (until 1959) and reduced. ... Tetra Pak, (of Swedish origin), is a multinational food packaging company. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Powdered milk is a powder made from dried milk solids. ...


Varieties and brands

Cow's milk is generally available in several varieties. In some countries these are:

  • Full cream (or "whole" in North America, about 3.25% fat)
  • Semi-skimmed ("reduced fat" or "low fat", about 1.5-1.8% fat)
  • Skimmed (about 0.1% fat)

Milk in the U.S. and Canada is sold as:

  • Whole varieties
  • 2 % (reduced fat)
  • 1 % (low fat)
  • 1/2 % (very low fat)
  • Skim (nearly no fat)

Note: In Canada "whole" milk refers to creamline (unhomogenized) milk. "Homogenized" milk (or "Homo milk" in short) refers to milk which is 3.25% butterfat. Generally all store-bought milk in Canada has been homogenized, yet the term is also used as a name to describe butterfat content for a specific variety of milk. Modern commercial dairy processing techniques involve first removing all of the butterfat, and then adding back the appropriate amount depending on which product is being produced on that particular line.


In Britain, it is possible to get Channel Island milk, which is 5.5% fat. Channel Island milk (sometimes called gold-top milk after the colour of the milk bottle top) is creamy, light-beige coloured milk originally from the Channel Islands. ...


In the United States, skim milk is also known as "fat free" milk, due to USDA regulations stating that any food with less than 1/2 gram of fat per serving can be labeled "fat free". The U.S. Department of Agriculture, also called the Agriculture Department, or USDA, is a Cabinet department of the United States Federal Government. ...


Full cream, or whole milk, has the full milk fat content (about 3-4% if Friesian- or Holstein-breed are the source). For skimmed or semi-skimmed milk, all of the fat content is removed and then some (in the case of semi-skimmed milk) is returned. The best-selling variety of milk is semi-skimmed; in some countries full-cream (whole) milk is generally seen as less healthy and skimmed milk is often thought to lack taste. Whole milk is recommended to provide sufficient fat for developing toddlers who have graduated from breast milk or infant formula. Friesian (alternate spelling: Frisian) can refer to: An inhabitant of Frisia (consisting of the province of Friesland in the Netherlands, and portions of the states of Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein in Germany) - see Frisians The language spoken in Frisia - see Frisian language A breed of horse from Frisia, see... For other uses of the word, see Holstein Holstein Cows The Holstein, or Friesian as it is known in the UK, is a cattle breed used in dairy farming. ... Breast milk usually refers to the milk produced by a human female which is usually fed to infants by breastfeeding. ... An infant being fed by bottle. ...


Other milk animals

In addition to cows, the following animals provide milk for dairy products: Binomial name Bos taurus Linnaeus, 1758 Rainbow arching over a paddock of cattle Cattle are domesticated ungulates, a member of the subfamily Bovinae of the family Bovidae. ...

In Russia and Sweden, small moose dairies also exist. Donkey and horse milk have the lowest fat content, while the milk of seals contains more than 50% fat. [15] Species See text. ... Species See Species and subspecies The goat is a mammal in the genus Capra, which consists of nine species: the Ibex, the West Caucasian Tur, the East Caucasian Tur, the Markhor, and the Wild Goat. ... Binomial name Equus caballus Linnaeus, 1758 nugget For other uses, see Horse (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Equus asinus Linnaeus, 1758 For other uses, see Donkey (disambiguation). ... Species Camelus bactrianus Camelus dromedarius A camel is either of the two species of large even-toed ungulate in the genus Camelus, the Dromedary (single hump) and the Bactrian Camel (double hump). ... Species  Lama glama  Lama guanicoe  Lama pacos  Vicugna vicugna  Camelus dromedarius  Camelus bactrianus The four llamas and two camels are camelids: members of the biological family Camelidae, the only family in the suborder Tylopoda. ... Binomial name Bos gruniens Linnaeus, 1766 Subspecies The yak (Bos grunniens) is a long-haired humped domestic bovine found in Tibet and throughout the Himalayan region of south central Asia. ... Binomial name Bubalus arnee (Kerr, 1792) The Water Buffalo is a very large ungulate. ... Binomial name Rangifer tarandus (Linnaeus, 1758) Caribou redirects here. ... Binomial name Alces alces (Linnaeus, 1758) Moose range map Alces alces, called the moose in North America and the elk in Europe (see also elk for other animals called elk) is the largest member of the deer family Cervidae, distinguished from other members of Cervidae by the form of the... Families Odobenidae Otariidae Phocidae Pinnipeds (fin-feet, lit. ...


Whale's milk — not generally used for human consumption — is one of the highest-fat milks. It contains, on average, 10.9% protein, 42.3% fat, and 2.0% lactose, and supplies 443 kcal of energy per 100 grams. Whales are the largest species of exclusively aquatic mammals, members of the order Cetacea, which also includes dolphins and porpoises. ...


Curdling

When raw milk is left standing for a while, it turns sour. This is the result of fermentation: lactic acid bacteria turning the milk sugar into lactic acid. This fermentation process is exploited in the production of various dairy products such as cheese and yogurt. There are four noted periods of milk decay: Raw milk is milk that has not been processed via pasteurization (heating) or homogenization before consumption by humans. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Species L. acidophilus L. bulgaricus L. plantarum L.reuteri etc. ... Lactic acid, also known as milk acid or 2-hydroxypropanoic acid, is a chemical compound that plays a role in several biochemical processes. ... Cheese is a food made from the curdled milk of cows, goats, sheep, buffalo or other mammals. ... Yoghurt Yoghurt or yogurt, less commonly yoghourt or yogourt, is a dairy product produced by bacterial fermentation of milk. ...

  • Rancid (also called "on the turn". Milk is still consumable at this stage)
  • Curdling (separation of curd and whey will occur but may still be consumable)
  • Coagulation (beyond use. A period of aromatic decay sets in accompanied by mould)
  • Dry (beyond use. The milk has dehydrated and become hard and chalky)

Pasteurized cow's milk, on the other hand, spoils in a way that makes it unsuitable for consumption, causing it to assume an unpleasant odor and pose a high danger of food poisoning if ingested. The naturally-occurring lactic acid bacteria in raw milk, under suitable conditions, quickly produce large amounts of lactic acid. The ensuing acidity in turn prevents other germs from growing, or slows their growth significantly. Through pasteurization, however, these lactic acid bacteria are mostly destroyed, which means that other germs can grow unfettered and thus cause decomposition. Pasteurization is the process of heating food for the purpose of killing harmful organisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, molds, and yeasts. ... Foodborne illness or food poisoning is caused by consuming food contaminated with pathogenic bacteria, toxins, viruses, prions or parasites. ... Lactic acid, also known as milk acid or 2-hydroxypropanoic acid, is a chemical compound that plays a role in several biochemical processes. ... Acidity is a controversial novelette written for the popular South Asian website Chowk. ... Germ is an informal term for a pathogen, particularly bacteria (as in germ warfare). ...


In order to prevent spoilage, milk can be kept refrigerated and stored between 1 and 4 degrees Celsius. Most milk is pasteurized by heating briefly and then refrigerated to allow transport from factory farms to local markets. The spoilage of milk can be forestalled by using ultra-high temperature (UHT) treatment; milk so treated can be stored unrefrigerated for several months until opened. Sterilized milk, which is heated for a much longer period of time, will last even longer, but also lose more nutrients and assume a still different taste. Condensed milk, made by removing most of the water, can be stored for many months, unrefrigerated. The most durable form of milk is milk powder which is produced from milk by removing almost all water. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into refrigeration. ... A degree Celsius (°C) is a unit of temperature named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius (1701-1744), who first proposed a similar system in 1742. ... Pasteurization is the process of heating food for the purpose of killing harmful organisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoa, molds, and yeasts. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into refrigeration. ... These female brood sows are confined most of their lives in gestation crates, which are too small to enable them to turn around. ... Ultra-high temperature, or UHT, processing is the partial sterilization of food by heating it for a short time at a temperature significantly above 100°C, typically 135-140°C. The high temperature reduces the processing time, which reduces the danger of spoiling. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Powdered milk is a powder of a substance that when mixed with water creates a milk drink. ... A girl in a swimming pool Water (from the Old English waeter; c. ...


Why milk expands on heating

Contrary to popular belief, milk does not actually reach boiling point faster than water. The reason behind the quick expansion of milk on heating is due to its chemical composition. Proteins have the ability of coating bubbles and stabilizing foams; milk is an emulsion of very small fat droplets coated by casein. A. Two immisicble liquids, not emulsified; B. An emulsion of Phase B dispersed in Phase A; C. The unstable emulsion progressively separates; D. The (purple) surfactant positions itself on the interfaces between Phase A and Phase B, stabilizing the emulsion An emulsion is a mixture of two immiscible (unblendable) substances. ...


At and below room temperature, droplets are arranged in a way that protects them from coalescing. On heating, this subtle architecture is destroyed: milk reaches a temperature (below boiling point of water) in which protein molecules are irreversibly changed in their spatial arrangement (denatured). Casein, together with other components, thereby forms a tough film which surrounds the water vapour bubbles of boiling milk, preventing them from breaking. This has the effect that the milk is transformed into a relatively stable foam, which occupies a much larger volume than the original liquid. Irreversible egg protein denaturation and loss of solubility, caused by the high temperature (while cooking it) In biochemistry, denaturation is a structural change in biomolecules such as nucleic acids and proteins, such that they are no longer in their native state, and their shape which allows for optimal activity. ... Foam The most general definition of foam is a substance that is formed by trapping many gas bubbles in a liquid or solid. ...


References

[16] Introduction to Dairy Science,Guelph


See also

Wikibooks
Wikibooks Cookbook has more about this subject:

Almond milk is a milky drink made from ground almonds, not unlike soy milk or rice milk. ... Bovine somatotropin (bST), or bovine growth hormone (BGH), is a protein hormone that occurs naturally in the pituitary gland of cattle. ... The Babcock test is the first inexpensive and practical test factories could use to determine the fat content of milk. ... Dairy farm near Oxford, New York A dairy is a facility for the extraction and processing of animal milk (mostly from cows, sometimes from buffalo, sheep or goats) and other farm animals, for human consumption. ... Grain milk is a milk substitute made from fermented grain or from flour. ... Rice milk is a kind of grain milk processed from rice. ... Soy milk (also called soymilk, soya milk, soybean milk, soy bean milk, soy drink, or soy beverage) is a milk-like product made from soybeans. ... 4 milk bottles in a crate Milk bottles are reusable glass bottles used mainly for doorstep delivery of fresh milk by milkmen. ... Raw milk is milk that has not been processed via pasteurization (heating) or homogenization before consumption by humans. ... Image File history File links Wikibooks-logo-en. ...

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