N. S. Marzanov, D. A. Devrishov, S. N. Marzanova
Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology – MVA named after K. I. Skryabin, Moscow, Russia
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Volume 26 No. 5
Date of paper submission: 20.02.2026, date of review: 20.03.2026, date of acceptance: 08.04.2026.
Published: 05/31/2026
Abstract. Alternative milk is identical to cow’s milk. However, the spread of cow’s milk protein allergies necessitates the creation of diets that consider the needs of sensitive consumers. Concerns related to climate change, animal diseases, and the use of chemicals for treatment have led to the search for non-cow’s milk. Such a product presents a promising prospect as an alternative milk source. The purpose of this study is to characterize animal species as providers of non-cow’s milk (hereinafter referred to as alternative milk); to assess the influence of the external environment on the studied animal species. Methods. A literature search was conducted in the eLibrary, Cyberleninka, and PubMed databases in accordance with a developed strategy for including and excluding publications on the studied animal species. Scientific novelty. For the first time within the scope of this research, alternative milk is presented as an important component of human life. Alternative milk offers various health benefits for humans. Numerous medical and therapeutic effects allow them to be marketed as functional foods, attracting a wide range of consumers. Results. The review primarily focuses on the composition of alternative milk from different animal species, as well as its nutritional and functional properties. It is known that cow’s and buffalo’s milk constitute a large portion of the human diet. However, milk obtained from other sources plays an equally important role in people’s lives in several countries worldwide. Providers of such milk are very beneficial and deserve special attention. Their undemanding breeding makes them the best substitute as a milk source for humans. Accumulated global experience shows that products made from alternative milk can potentially benefit human health. However, there is a certain knowledge gap regarding the human gut microbiota and the importance of milk quality and safety, which requires further research.
Keywords: species, families, animals, alternative milk, climatic conditions, loci, genotypes, alleles
For citation: Marzanov N. S., Devrishov D. A., Marzanova S. N. Alternative sources of milk and its significance. Agrarian Bulletin of the Urals. 2026; 26 (05): 886‒902. https://doi.org/10.32417/1997-4868-2026-26-05-886-902 (In Russ.)
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