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Why is seal milk so high in fat?
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seal
Crabeater seal (Lobodon carcinophagus).
Seal milk is exceptionally high in fat—containing approximately 12 times the fat content of domestic cow milk—to provide an efficient and concentrated energy source for the rapid growth of their young.1
Because marine mammals often face environments where they must develop quickly, this nutrient-dense milk allows some species to double their birth weight in as little as five days. While the milk is also significantly richer in protein than that of cows, it contains almost no lactose, reflecting the specialized nutritional requirements of these mammals.1