Bovine Colostrum vs Goat Colostrum: What You Need To Know

Colostrum is one of those supplements that is quite misunderstood. And it’s true that there are some differences between goat and bovine colostrum although realistically most people who supplement colostrum don’t take nearly enough of it to see these differences. That’s because colostrum, whether it be cow or goat colostrum, isn’t really designed to consumed as a couple of grams.

The fact is that there are four main compounds that are responsible for colostrum’s benefits for immune health, gut function, skin health and muscle recovery.

And whilst it is true that there are more immunoglobulins in bovine colostrum and more lactoferrin in goat colostrum in most cases you won’t be getting enough of either, let alone the PRP’s and Growth Factors.

(Don’t worry we’ll explain what these are in a second).

As a quick plug for ourselves we standardize our colostrum to be in line with the clinical trial doses of each of the big 4 micro compounds, we’re the only brand to do this right now. Some do  2, but nobody else is covering all 4 (at least at the time this article is being written). And that’s the last the only plug we’re going to do for ourselves.

What Are the Key Components of Colostrum?

Colostrum is loaded with a bunch of bioactive compounds that make it unique. Here's a quick look at the standout components you'll find:

1. Immunoglobulins (IgG): These proteins are essential for boosting the immune system. They help neutralize bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. There’s more of this in Bovine Colostrum.
2. Lactoferrin: An antimicrobial protein that helps with iron absorption and boosts the immune system. This is the one that Goat Colostrum has more of.
3. Growth Factors: These help promote tissue growth and repair, which makes colostrum great for muscle recovery.
4. Proline-Rich Polypeptides (PRPs): These peptides help regulate the immune system, making colostrum helpful for people dealing with autoimmune conditions or those who just want to boost overall immune health.

Immunoglobulins (IgG)

Immunoglobulins are as the name may suggest an immune boosting compound. Both bovine and goat colostrum are rich in IgG, but cow colostrum generally has a bit more. To get the full 500mg dose that’s used in trials, you’d need about 5 grams of bovine colostrum, which some larger dosed colostrum powders do in fact do, but most on the market don’t. You’d be looking for about 6 grams of goat colostrum.

Lactoferrin

Lactoferrin is a protein that has some immune boosting and antimicrobial effects, although it is generally considered to be secondary in potency to immunoglobulins.. You’d need about 40 grams of cow colostrum although goat colostrum could be as low as 10 grams as it generally makes up about 2% of goat colostrum vs bovine colostrum’s 0.5%.

Proline-Rich Polypeptides (PRPs)

PRPs are peptides that help regulate the immune system and manage inflammation. Both bovine and goat colostrum are great sources of PRPs, but bovine colostrum tends to have slightly higher concentrations of these peptides. You can theoretically get enough of these from 10 grams of bovine colostrum, vs 20 grams of goat colostrum.

Growth Factors

Growth factors, are important for muscle recovery and tissue repair. Bovine colostrum is known to contain higher amounts of growth factors than goat colostrum, which is why it's generally considered the better option for improving athletic performance.

To achieve a therapeutic dose of 200 ng of growth factors, you would need 2–4 kilograms of non-standardized bovine colostrum, as the growth factors are present in very small quantities in the raw product (around 0.0001–0.001%). For goat colostrum, you would need a similar amount — approximately 2–4 kilograms of non-standardized goat colostrum — to achieve 200 ng due to the lower concentration of growth factors in goat colostrum compared to bovine.

So without standardization you’re not getting enough growth factors from a supplement.

Bovine vs Goat Colostrum

Realistically if you’re taking raw colostrum, then you’ll need to be looking at 10 gram servings, and bovine does win out as you’re going to get enough PRPs and Immunoglobulins when you compare it to goat colostrum which only offers a full dose of lactoferrin.

 

Human Trials on Bovine vs. Goat Colostrum

Bovine colostrum has far more human trials compared to goat colostrum, making it the better-studied option. Most research on bovine colostrum focuses on its benefits for immune support, gut health, and muscle recovery.

There’s a lot of studies, but to highlight two examples, and to prove our point about dosages… The most often cited study was done on 10g of bovine colostrum taken daily. This helped reduce the frequency of upper respiratory infections and improved overall immune function. Another trial found that bovine colostrum was effective in reducing gut permeability, making it a popular supplement for individuals dealing with digestive issues like leaky gut. Additionally, bovine colostrum has been shown to aid muscle recovery, with athletes reporting less soreness and faster healing after intense workouts.

On the other hand, goat colostrum has fewer trials, but it’s gaining attention for its higher lactoferrin content. There have been some studies which have shown that goat colostrum can boost immune markers and support gut health, especially in those with IBS. It is particularly valued for its ability to support the digestive system and improve immune function.

Overall, bovine colostrum is far more widely studied and offers a broader range of benefits, but goat colostrum is emerging as a good alternative for gut health and immune support.

Other Differences Between Goat and Bovine Colostrum

Generally speaking, goat colostrum seems to be more well tolerated by people who have digestive issues than it’s cow based counterpart.

Goat colostrum tends to be richer in probiotics although this does depend on the species of goat, and most people would be better off with a normal probiotic if this is what you’re going for.

So Which Is Better Bovine or Goat Colostrum

We tend to lean towards bovine colostrum as it has the edge in human trials. That said of course it doesn’t particularly matter if the supplement is standardized correctly. There is also the fact that it wins out in two of the 4 major compounds that are responsible for the unique benefits of colostrum.

Most of these trials focus on specific compounds or standardized bovine colostrum, which is ultimately what we’re trying to do at Nootrum. That’s our goal in general to make sure things line up with the studies. Yes, I know we said we would only do the one plug, but the lack of transparency in our industry really get’s out goat.

So, hopefully that’s helped, and even if you don’t buy from us, keep in mind that you may need a lot more colostrum than your supplement brand is telling you, and that may just be a way to sell you less for more!