The richest milk, in terms of fat content, comes from the Hooded Seal.
Hooded Seal Milk: Exceptionally High Fat Content
Hooded seal mothers produce milk with a fat content exceeding 60%. To put this in perspective, human breast milk typically contains around 3-5% fat. The extraordinarily high fat content in hooded seal milk allows their pups to gain weight rapidly in a very short period.
Comparison of Fat Content:
| Type of Milk | Approximate Fat Content |
|---|---|
| Human Breast Milk | 3-5% |
| Cow's Milk (Whole) | 3.5% |
| Hooded Seal Milk | >60% |
The milk is so rich because the seal pups only nurse for about 4 days. They need to gain a significant amount of weight in a short amount of time to survive in their harsh Arctic environment. The high fat content is crucial for their rapid development and energy storage.
