Buffalo Milk · Compare
Buffalo Milk vs Cow Milk: Nutrition, Fat, Protein & Which Is Better
Buffalo milk is richer than cow milk. Per 100 g it has about 6.9 g of fat versus 3.3 g, 97 kcal versus 61, 3.75 g of protein versus 3.15 and 169 mg of calcium versus 113 (USDA data). That makes it thicker, creamier and better for ghee, paneer, curd and khoa, while cow milk is lighter and lower in calories. Neither is healthier for everyone: choose by your calorie needs, digestion and what you are making.
Quick take
- Fat: ~6.9 g vs ~3.3 g per 100 g — about double.
- Calories: 97 vs 61 kcal; protein 3.75 vs 3.15 g.
- Calcium: 169 vs 113 mg — ~50% more in buffalo milk.
- Buffalo for ghee, paneer, curd; cow for a lighter daily glass.
Most Indian homes drink one or the other without thinking much about it. The differences are real, though, and they decide which milk suits a growing child, a dieter, a chai lover or a ghee maker.
We make A2 buffalo bilona ghee from Murrah buffalo milk, so we have an interest here; every number below is from the cited sources.
Buffalo milk vs cow milk: the numbers
| Per 100 g | Buffalo milk | Cow milk (whole) |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 97 kcal | 61 kcal |
| Fat | 6.9 g | 3.3 g |
| Protein | 3.75 g | 3.15 g |
| Carbohydrate (mostly lactose) | 5.2 g | 4.8 g |
| Calcium | 169 mg | 113 mg |
| Phosphorus | 117 mg | 84 mg |
| Magnesium | 31 mg | 10 mg |
| Cholesterol | 19 mg | 10 mg |
| Water | 83.4 g | 88.1 g |
USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy): Indian buffalo milk and whole cow milk, 3.25% fat. Real milk varies with breed, feed and season.
Why buffalo milk is thicker
Buffalo milk has about 16.6% total solids (fat, protein, lactose and minerals) against about 11.9% for cow milk. More solids and almost double the fat give it the heavy, creamy body you notice in chai and curd. More on the fat: buffalo milk fat percentage.
Colour: white vs creamy-yellow
Buffalo milk is bright white; cow milk has a faint yellow tint. Cows pass some yellow beta-carotene from grass into their milk fat, while buffalo convert it into colourless vitamin A (why buffalo milk is white). The same reason explains why buffalo ghee is white.
Digestion
Richer milk takes longer to digest. Many people find buffalo milk heavier, especially at night or for small children, and Ayurveda calls it guru (heavy). Lactose is similar in both, so neither helps lactose intolerance (buffalo milk and lactose, is buffalo milk hard to digest?).
A2: is buffalo milk A2?
Yes. A 2023 genotyping study of 172 Murrah and graded Murrah buffaloes found every animal A2A2. Cow milk depends on the breed: desi breeds are mostly A2, while Holstein and Jersey carry A1 (is buffalo milk A2?, buffalo milk vs A2 cow milk).
Which is better for what?
| Need | Better choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Weight gain, active teens | Buffalo | More calories and protein per glass (guide) |
| Weight loss, low calorie | Cow (or toned) | ~40% fewer calories (guide) |
| Ghee, paneer, khoa, curd | Buffalo | More fat and solids, higher yield |
| Light daily drink | Cow | Lower fat, easier for many |
| Toddlers (after 1 year) | Either, per paediatrician | See buffalo milk for kids |
For ghee, the gap is biggest
Ghee is pure milk fat, so fat content decides how much milk a kilo needs: about 14 kg of 7% buffalo milk holds a kilo of fat, against about 25 kg of 4% cow milk (milk-to-ghee maths). The resulting ghees differ too: buffalo ghee vs cow ghee. In Hindi: भैंस का दूध vs गाय का दूध.
Buffalo milk guides
- Buffalo Milk Benefits
- Buffalo Milk Nutrition Facts
- Buffalo Milk Fat Percentage & SNF
- Buffalo Milk Protein
- Buffalo Milk Calcium
- Buffalo Milk and Cholesterol
- Does Buffalo Milk Have Lactose?
- Is Buffalo Milk Hard to Digest?
- Buffalo Milk Side Effects
- Buffalo Milk for Babies & Kids
- Buffalo Milk for Weight Gain
- Cow Milk or Buffalo Milk for Weight Loss?
- Buffalo Milk for Tea
- Buffalo Milk Curd
- Buffalo Milk Paneer
- Khoa from Buffalo Milk
- Why Is Buffalo Milk White and Cow Milk Yellowish?
- Buffalo Milk vs Goat Milk
- Buffalo Milk vs A2 Cow Milk
- Murrah Buffalo Milk
- Buffalo Milk in Ayurveda
- Buffalo Milk in India
- भैंस का दूध vs गाय का दूध
- भैंस के दूध के फायदे और नुकसान
- म्हशीचे दूध की गाईचे दूध
Sources & references
- USDA FoodData Central — Milk, Indian buffalo, fluid (SR Legacy 171280)
- USDA FoodData Central — Milk, whole, 3.25% milkfat (SR Legacy 172217)
- Kathiravan P et al. A study on β-casein gene polymorphism in crossbred cattle and Murrah / graded Murrah buffalo in Tamil Nadu. Indian Journal of Animal Research, 2023; 57(7)
- Sodhi M et al. Screening of taurine and crossbred breeding bulls for A1/A2 variants of β-casein gene. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 2012; 82(2)
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, buffalo milk or cow milk?
Neither is better for everyone. Buffalo milk has about twice the fat and 60% more calories, plus more protein and calcium; cow milk is lighter. Choose buffalo for weight gain, ghee, paneer and curd, and cow for a lower-calorie daily glass.
Does buffalo milk have more protein than cow milk?
Yes, a little: about 3.75 g per 100 g versus 3.15 g in whole cow milk, per USDA data.
Is buffalo milk A2?
Yes. Buffalo milk carries the A2 type of beta-casein; a 2023 study found all 172 Murrah buffaloes tested were A2A2.
Why is buffalo milk thicker than cow milk?
It has about 16.6% total solids and 6.9% fat, versus about 11.9% solids and 3.3% fat in whole cow milk.
Is buffalo milk harder to digest?
Many people find it heavier because of its higher fat. Lactose content is similar in both milks.
The richest milk makes the richest ghee
A2 Farmer Buffalo Bilona Ghee — A2A2 confirmed by PCR, 99.76% milk fat, hand-churned and glass-packed. From ₹799.
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