Nowadays, many people are looking for milk substitutes for a healthy and enjoyable lifestyle. You might be here for this reason, or just because you are curious about whales. Anyway, we are going to answer what whale milk tastes like right away!
Nursing in Whales
Anatomy
If you ever had the opportunity to see a whale from all sides, you have probably recognized that the human breast looks different from a whale’s breast. Both, whales and humans, possess two mammary glands, however, while humans have them outside the body, you cannot find any attachment in whales and dolphins. Their glands are located inside skin grooves, called mammary slits. So how can whale calves get their milk if the nipples are hidden well inside these special skin folds?
Feeding process
Whale calves have a unique way of breastfeeding. They introduce their tongues into the mammary slits and wrap them around the female’s bosom, channeling the released milk directly into their mouths. Due to this stimulation cue, the mammary glands are prevented from retracting and only start ejecting milk when the baby can catch it directly.
Looking at this complex process, it is easy to understand why we do not use whale milk as a common source of milk. We cannot find the mammary glands easily, and it would almost be impossible to stimulate them properly to retrieve milk. Furthermore, it would also be challenging to find these elusive animals to milk them and of course, we do not support whales kept in captivity! So, all in all, getting milk from whales is difficult and not cost-effective for mass production.
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Importance for the Calf
Besides these obvious reasons, there are some more hidden ones, for humans to not drink whale milk. Indeed, whales need to produce a huge amount of milk. However, it is extremely rich in nutrients and fats. For humans, it would probably be extremely difficult to accept this milk, but for whale calves this high concentration of fat is highly important! As milk is the sole food source of a whale calf, it can feed on up to 400 liters of milk per day and thus, gain about 90 kg of weight per day.
Most toothed whale calves get weaned at the age of 1–3 years. They are called income breeders. There are usually no migratory phases and the whales feed also during the nursing period, which gives them the energy for milk production. However, there are quite some species that only nurse for shorter periods, like, for example, the harbor porpoise, which is only 8 months.
In contrast, baleen whales commonly stop nursing after 6–7 months. They are referred to as capital breeders. Here, lactation and feasting period are normally occurring at the same time. This means that they eat notably less during their calving period in winter and take advantage of a strong blubber layer (fatty tissue) to get the energy for milk production. Blue whales, for example, lose 20% of their whole body protein during the first 19 days of lactating! Calves have to grow fast and evolve thick blubber layers as they migrate together to polar-feeding places in springtime.
Whale Milk
Consistency and Color
As mentioned before, the milk of whales contains considerably higher amounts of fat than the milk of cows or humans. Thus, it has a thicker consistency, like cream cheese or soft butter. Depending on the whale species, we speak here of 35-50% fat, compared to about 4% present in cow milk. Baleen whales are typically on the higher edge of the range due to earlier weaning and faster development of the calves. This high-fat content comes with about 443 kcal per 100 grams of whale milk – so that’s not a light diet!
Nevertheless, the fat content of whale milk most likely depends on the lactation state, like with every other mammal. However, it is difficult to prove because the age of whale calves can usually just be estimated. Results from Japanese surveys conducted during the early 1920s suggest that the fat content of females with newborn calves is lower than that of older calves.
The color of whale milk can vary strongly but appears mostly in shades of cream, ivory, light green and yellowish tones. These special colors may most likely be caused by the alimentation of the animals. A few times, scientists have found a reddish color, but they proposed that this appeared from blood contamination while examining the mammary glands. Likewise, It is striking that, at least in some whale species, there is no lactose present in the milk.
Taste
In terms of consistency, whale milk would make the perfect base for ice cream! However, even after processing it into gelato, the milk would retain a salty-fishy sea flavor. Studies figured out that whale milk in general has a slightly fishy taste. The milk of blue whales combines this taste with the flavor of castor oil, milk of magnesia and a bit of liver. The exact taste depends on the species and the proteins, fats and fatty acids contained in the milk. Therefore, most likely humans would not enjoy whale milk in their muesli, ice cream or anywhere else!
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Conclusion
To put it in a nutshell, the harvest, and processing of whale milk is not feasible for human needs. If we consider the taste, this milk could be useful in other contexts, but if you are dieting, whale milk is nothing for you! A half-cup serving of whale ice cream would contain about 900 kcal!
Nevertheless, I would prefer to leave the whale milk where it belongs — to the whales and their babies – so that we will be able to watch these fascinating creatures still for a long time!
FAQs
What is unique about the feeding process of whale calves?
Whale calves feed by inserting their tongues into mammary slits to stimulate milk ejection. This method prevents the mammary glands from retracting and ensures direct milk flow into the calf’s mouth.
How does whale milk differ from cow or human milk?
Whale milk is exceptionally rich in nutrients and fats, essential for rapid calf growth. It has a thick consistency similar to cream cheese and contains about 443 kcal per 100 grams, much higher than cow milk’s 4% fat content.
What does whale milk taste like?
Whale milk has a slightly fishy taste due to its marine diet, with variations depending on the species. Despite its creamy texture, the taste profile includes hints of fish oils and liver, making it unsuitable for human palates.
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