Examples of animals that produce milk include cows, cats, camels, buffalo, donkeys, and goats.
There are many different types of animals that produce milk, including insects, amphibians, fish, and reptiles.
For example, in the spider family, there are species of spiders who all have a system for producing milk to feed their offspring.
Milk can be obtained from any number of animals but does not always come in the form of liquid. For instance, sea mammals such as whales and dolphins produce milk that is thick and white like toothpaste.
We will go thru the top animals that produce milk for human consumption or if it’s just for feeding their young.
Examples of Animals that Produce Drinkable Milk
1. Buffalo
| Scientific Name | Bubalus bubalis |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Asia and Africa |
| Diet | Herbivore |
The buffalo is a large bovine that is found in North America and parts of Asia. Buffalo is well-known for its milk, which is said to be high in nutrients and healthy fats.
In fact, the American Dietetic Association named buffalo milk one of the “Top Ten Healthiest Foods.” Buffalo milk has a thick texture and a slightly sweet taste.
2. Camel
| Scientific Name | Camelus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | North Africa and the Middle East |
| Diet | Herbivore |
Camels are desert animals that can be found in Africa and Asia. Camels are well-known for their ability to drink large quantities of water, and they also produce milk that is high in nutrients.
Camel milk is said to have anti-inflammatory properties, and it has been used to treat conditions such as autism and diabetes. Camel milk is also high in calories, making it a good source of energy for people who live in hot climates.
3. Cockroach
| Scientific Name | Blattodea |
| Type of Animal | Insect |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Omnivore |
One highly unusual source of milk is cockroaches. These insects have a functional mammary gland that secretes the white liquid, but it isn’t used for feeding their young.
Instead, these cockroach milk are produced to help sustain female roaches during pregnancy and lactation; they do not contain substantial amounts of nutrition like other types of milk, but they are high in protein.
In fact, cockroach milk is being considered a potential food supplement due to its high content of nutrients and proteins.
4. Cows
| Scientific Name | Bos taurus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Herbivore |
The cow is a domesticated animal that has been used for its milk for centuries. In fact, the cow is the most common source of dairy products such as cheese, butter, and yogurt.
Cows are able to produce large quantities of milk and can be bred year-round. A female cow (a heifer) is not able to produce milk until she has given birth.
5. Donkey
| Scientific Name | Equus asinus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Herbivore |
Donkey’s milk is used to create some types of cheese, including the Greek variety feta.
6. Goat
| Scientific Name | Capra aegagrus hircus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Herbivore |
Goats are perhaps one of the most well-known animals that produce milk. Their milk is high in calcium and other nutrients, making it a popular choice for those looking for an alternative to cow’s milk.
Goat cheese is also a popular food item, and goat milk can be used to make soap, lotion, and other cosmetics.
7. Horse
| Scientific Name | Equus caballus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Herbivore |
Horse milk is a popular drink in many parts of the world. It is high in fat and protein and has a sweet, nutty flavor.
8. Moose
| Scientific Name | Alces alces |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | North America, Europe, and Russia |
| Diet | Herbivore |
Moose milk is a creamy, whitish fluid that is high in fat and low in sugar. It is obtained by milking the moose’s udder, which is located on the underside of the animal near its hindquarters. Moose milk has been used for centuries to make cheese, yogurt, and ice cream.
9. Pig
| Scientific Name | Sus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Omnivore |
Pig milk is a popular drink in some parts of the world and is sometimes used to make cheese. Pig milk is high in fat and has a strong flavor, which makes it unpopular with some people.
10. Reindeer
| Scientific Name | Rangifer tarandus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Russia, Alaska, and Canada |
| Diet | Herbivore |
Reindeer milk is high in fat and protein, making it a nutritious food source for the indigenous people of Scandinavia and Russia. The milk is also low in carbohydrates, which is unusual for mammals.
11. Sheep
| Scientific Name | Ovis aries |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Herbivore |
Sheep milk is prized for its high protein content and mild flavor. It is obtained by milking the sheep’s udder, which is located on the underside of its body near its hindquarters. Sheep milk has been used for centuries to make cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and even soap.
12. Yak
| Scientific Name | Bos grunniens |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | the alpine tundra |
| Diet | Herbivore |
The yak is a large, bovine animal that is found in the Himalayas. Yak milk is high in fat and protein, making it a popular source of nutrition for people living in the area. In fact, yak milk has been used to make cheese and yogurt for centuries.
Examples of Animals that Produce Non-Drinkable Milk
13. Aye-aye
| Scientific Name | Daubentonia madagascariensis |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Madagascar |
| Diet | Omnivore |
The aye-aye is a lemur that is found in Madagascar. This animal has unique features, such as its long middle finger, which it uses to extract insects from trees.
The aye-aye also produces milk, which is used to feed its young.
14. Baboons
| Scientific Name | Papio |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | western equatorial Africa |
| Diet | Omnivore |
Baboons will eat just about anything, but their young need milk to thrive. Female baboons lactate for up to 12 months after giving birth and will nurse their young until they are weaned.
The milk is high in nutrients and helps the babies grow strong and healthy.
Related Article: Do Baboons Eat Birds?
15. Badgers
| Scientific Name | Meles meles |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | North America |
| Diet | Carnivore |
Badgers are usually solitary creatures but sometimes share a burrow with one another temporarily to help raise young together.
Badger cubs stay in the den with their mother until they are about six months old and learn how to forage for food.
Cubs will nurse from their mother until they are weaned at around 2-3 months old.
16. Bengal Tigers
| Scientific Name | Panthera tigris tigris |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | India |
| Diet | Carnivore |
Bengal Tigers not only drink milk but produce it to feed their young.
Male tigers also lick and groom the cubs, sometimes sharing food with them. Cubs will follow their mothers around until they are about 24 months old and start to venture out on their own.
17. Chimpanzee
| Scientific Name | Pan troglodytes |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Central and West Africa |
| Diet | Omnivore |
The milk is produced for their young and helps to provide them with the nutrients they need in order to grow and develop properly.
Unlike human milk, chimpanzee milk is low in fat and protein. This is most likely due to the fact that chimpanzees are not as active as humans and therefore do not need the extra energy that fat and protein provide.
Chimpanzee milk also contains high levels of sugar, which helps to provide the young with a quick source of energy.
18. Cougars
| Scientific Name | Puma concolor |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Canada south to Patagonia |
| Diet | Carnivore |
The cougar is a mammalian species that produce milk to nurse their young. The milk produced by the cougar helps to provide sustenance and energy for the growing cubs.
19. Dingoes
| Scientific Name | Canis lupus dingo |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Australia |
| Diet | Carnivore |
Dingoes Produce milk, which they use to feed their young. Female Dingoes produce milk for around 12 weeks after giving birth and will nurse their pups until they are about 6-8 months old.
20. Fox
| Scientific Name | Vulpes vulpes |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Worldwide |
| Diet | Omnivore |
The milk that foxes produce is high in fat and protein, which helps to provide the nutrients that the young need to grow and thrive.
Fox mothers will typically nurse their young for about six weeks, after which time the young will be able to start hunting on their own. Nursing provides important antibodies to help protect the young from disease.
21. Grizzly Bear
| Scientific Name | Ursus arctos horribilis |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | North America, Europe, and Asia |
| Diet | Omnivore |
Grizzly bears produce milk to feed their cubs. They produce milk for 3 years after the cub is born.
Milk production depends on how much the bear eats and how often it exercises.
A grizzly bear that lives in an area with plenty of food can produce about 45 ounces of milk per day
22. Gorillas
| Scientific Name | Gorilla |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | equatorial Africa |
| Diet | Herbivore |
Gorillas produce milk that is very similar to human milk. They nurse their young for up to three years, and the milk provides all the nutrients that the baby needs to grow and thrive.
Gorilla milk contains high levels of protein, fat, and carbohydrates, as well as important vitamins and minerals. It also has antibacterial properties that help protect the baby from infection.
23. Hedgehogs
| Scientific Name | Erinaceinae |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Europe, Asia, Africa, and New Zealand |
| Diet | Omnivore |
The milk contains protein and fat, but not much sugar or carbohydrates. Hedgehogs are one of the very few mammals that produce the enzyme lactase which breaks down lactose in milk; this allows them to digest it during infancy.
24. Howler Monkeys
| Scientific Name | Alouatta |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Brazil, Paraguay, eastern Bolivia |
| Diet | Omnivore |
They have a special mammary gland on their chest that produces milk for their offspring. The milk helps the young monkeys grow and develop until they are able to eat solid food.
Female howler monkeys typically stop producing milk when their offspring are around 18 to 24 months old.
25. Jaguarundi
| Scientific Name | Puma yagouaroundi |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Unites States |
| Diet | Omnivore |
Jaguarundi milk is different than cow milk. It’s thicker and contains more fat because jaguarundi mothers provide food for the young until they are old enough to hunt on their own.
26. Kinkajou
| Scientific Name | Potos flavus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Central and South America |
| Diet | Omnivore |
Kinkajou produces milk that is very nutritious. The milk contains about 33% of protein and 20% of fat. It also has a high content of minerals and vitamins, especially the B group.
27. Koalas
| Scientific Name | Phascolarctos cinereus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Eastern Australia |
| Diet | Herbivore |
Koalas are the only mammals in the world that produce milk in their pouches. They use this milk to feed their young until they are about six months old.
Koala mothers typically have two joeys at a time and will nurse them both until they are ready to leave her pouch.
28. Lynx
| Scientific Name | Lynx |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Europe, Asia, and North America |
| Diet | Carnivore |
Producing milk requires a lot of energy, so Lynx will often be found resting after feeding their young.
Female lynx produce between 30 and 50 percent less milk than females in other cat species due to the size difference between them and tigers.
29. Langur
| Scientific Name | Semnopithecus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Western Assam |
| Diet | Herbivore |
Langur produces milk to feed their infants. The milk is very nutritious and helps the infant langur grow and develop properly.
30. Marten
| Scientific Name | Martes |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Canada and Alaska |
| Diet | Omnivore |
As a mammal, the female produces milk for her young offspring, but by 3–4 months of age, the kits are able to hunt and soon leave their mother.
31. Mandrill
| Scientific Name | Mandrillus sphinx |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | west-central Africa |
| Diet | Omnivore |
The milk is high in fat and protein, and mandrills will consume the milk along with solid food.
Mandrill infants will nurse for up to 2 years and will continue to drink their mother’s milk until they are about 12 months old. After that time, they will start to eat solid foods as well. Mandrill milk is a valuable source of nutrition and helps to ensure the healthy growth of mandrill infants.
32. Orangutans
| Scientific Name | Pongo |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Southeast Asian islands of Borneo and Sumatra |
| Diet | Omnivore |
The milk is high in fat and protein and helps to ensure the survival of offspring. Orangutan mothers nurse their young for up to eight years, making it one of the longest breastfeeding periods among mammals.
Young orangutans will stay with their mothers for up to six years, learning important survival skills.
Producing milk is an important way for orangutans to provide for their young and help them thrive in the wild.
33. Panda
| Scientific Name | Ailuropoda melanoleuca |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | China |
| Diet | Herbivore |
When pandas give birth, the mother produces milk to feed her cub. Panda milk is very high in fat and protein, which helps the cub grow big and strong. In fact, panda milk is so nutritious that it can even be used to make baby formula.
Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.