Nutritionally, A2 protein milk is similar to regular milk in terms of how much protein, fat and calcium it contains. The difference is in their types of beta-casein protein. Beta-casein makes up 30% of the protein in milk and comes in two main forms – A1 and A2. Most cows produce a mix of A1 and A2 beta-casein but some cows produce only A2 beta-casein, which is where A2 protein milk comes from. A2 cows naturally have genetic instructions that code for milk casein proteins with a different amino acid at the specified position. Cows carrying the gene are then selectively bred to create offspring that have the A2/A2 DNA therefore producing milk with the desired qualities.
It is important to note there is no genetic engineering involved in the production of A2 protein milk. There is no introduction of foreign genes from other species and no tampering with the natural genetic code of the cows. In fact, this method of breeding animals with desired properties has been performed by humans since Neolithic times.
