Caprivita Institute of Infant Nutrition

Giving every child the best possible start.

The first years of life are a period of extraordinary growth and development. During infancy, nutrition plays a fundamental role in supporting healthy physical growth, brain development, immune function, digestive health, and lifelong wellbeing.

The Caprivita Institute of Infant Nutrition exists to translate current nutritional science into clear, practical guidance for parents and healthcare professionals. Rather than marketing claims, the Institute publishes structured, referenced material covering composition, digestion, immunity, and developmental nutrition across the first three years of life.

Caprivita Goat Milk Infant Formula has been scientifically developed to provide complete and balanced nutrition for infants and young children from birth to 36 months of age, when used according to the appropriate feeding stage. Every formulation is carefully designed to meet internationally recognised nutritional standards while delivering the natural goodness of 100% New Zealand goat milk.

Why 100% New Zealand Matters

Nature meets nutritional excellence.

The quality of an infant formula begins long before it reaches the production facility. It starts with the environment in which the milk is produced, the health and welfare of the animals, the quality of the pasture, and the standards applied throughout the entire dairy supply chain.

New Zealand's temperate climate, fertile soils, abundant rainfall, and extensive green pastures create excellent conditions for raising healthy dairy goats. Herds graze outdoors for much of the year, which supports natural animal behaviour, animal welfare and consistent milk quality.

• Pasture-based farming: year-round grazing supports naturally nutrient-rich milk.
• Strict regulation: New Zealand dairy is governed by some of the world's most rigorous food-safety and traceability requirements.
• Full traceability: every batch can be traced from farm through processing to the finished tin.
• Low contamination risk: geographic isolation and biosecurity controls protect herd health.

Understanding Caprivita Goat Milk

A gentle, naturally different milk base.

Goat milk has been consumed by humans for thousands of years and is used widely across the world as a nourishing dairy source. Its natural structure differs from cow milk in several meaningful ways that influence how it is digested and tolerated.

Goat milk forms a softer, looser curd in the stomach, contains naturally smaller fat globules, and has a different protein profile. These characteristics are retained in Caprivita formulations, which are then adjusted to meet infant nutritional requirements.

• Softer curd formation during digestion.
• Naturally smaller fat globules that present a larger surface area for lipase.
• Naturally occurring oligosaccharides that support gut health.
• Low levels of alpha-s1 casein, contributing to gentler digestion.

Composition of Caprivita Goat Milk

Nature's nutritional foundation.

Caprivita Goat Milk Infant Formula begins with 100% New Zealand goat milk, carefully selected for its quality, purity, and nutritional value. Goat milk naturally contains a wide range of nutrients that contribute to healthy growth and development.

Every serving provides a balanced combination of proteins, healthy fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients that work together to nourish growing infants. The whey-to-casein ratio, fatty acid blend and carbohydrate source are all adjusted so the finished formula supports the nutritional needs of each feeding stage.

Proteins and Amino Acids

The building blocks of growth.

Protein supplies the amino acids required to build muscle, organs, enzymes, hormones and antibodies. During infancy, when growth is faster than at any other stage of life, both the quantity and the quality of protein matter.

Caprivita formulas provide a balanced whey-to-casein ratio appropriate to each stage, delivering all essential amino acids in proportions suited to infant requirements. Goat milk protein is naturally low in alpha-s1 casein, which contributes to the softer curd formed during digestion.

• Essential amino acids that the infant body cannot produce on its own.
• Balanced protein level to support growth without unnecessary renal load.
• Whey-dominant profile in early stages for gentler digestion.

Taurine

A small amino acid with an important role.

Taurine is a conditionally essential amino acid that is present in breast milk and is considered important during early life, when the infant's capacity to synthesise it is still limited.

Taurine contributes to the development of the central nervous system and the retina, and participates in bile salt conjugation, which supports the absorption of dietary fats and fat-soluble vitamins. Caprivita formulations include taurine at levels aligned with international infant formula standards.

Milk Fat & MFGM

More than an energy source.

Fat supplies roughly half of the energy an infant receives from milk, and it also delivers essential fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K.

The Milk Fat Globule Membrane (MFGM) is the natural biological membrane that surrounds fat globules in milk. It is rich in phospholipids, glycoproteins, sphingomyelin and cholesterol — components that have been studied for their roles in brain development, cognitive outcomes and gut and immune defence.

• Phospholipids & sphingomyelin: structural components of neural membranes and myelin.
• Glycoproteins: studied for their supportive role in gut barrier function.
• Fat-soluble vitamin delivery: vitamins A, D, E and K travel with milk fat.

Medium-Chain Fatty Acids

Readily available energy.

Goat milk naturally contains a higher proportion of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) — including caproic, caprylic and capric acid — than cow milk. In fact, the goat-milk genus Capra gives these fatty acids their names.

MCFAs are absorbed more directly than long-chain fats and require less bile salt and pancreatic lipase activity, making them a readily available source of energy during a period when the infant digestive system is still maturing.

Digestibility

Gentle on small tummies.

An infant's digestive system is still developing during the first months of life. Enzyme activity, gastric acidity and gut motility all mature gradually, which is why the physical behaviour of milk in the stomach matters as much as its nutrient content.

The combination of low alpha-s1 casein, softer curd formation, smaller fat globules and a naturally higher share of medium-chain fatty acids contributes to the gentle digestibility associated with goat milk formulations.

• Softer, looser curd that is broken down more easily.
• Smaller fat globules offering greater surface area for digestive enzymes.
• Comfort-focused profile for infants transitioning to formula feeding.

Gut Microbiome & GOS/FOS

Nurturing the foundation of digestive and immune health.

The infant gut microbiome develops rapidly during the first years of life and plays a central role in digestion, nutrient absorption, immune education and gut barrier integrity.

Prebiotics are non-digestible carbohydrates that reach the large intestine intact and selectively encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria such as bifidobacteria. Caprivita formulations include the prebiotic blend GOS (galacto-oligosaccharides) and FOS (fructo-oligosaccharides), complementing the oligosaccharides naturally present in goat milk.

• GOS/FOS blend to support beneficial gut flora.
• Naturally occurring goat milk oligosaccharides.
• Softer stools and digestive comfort commonly associated with prebiotic support.

DHA, ARA & Brain Development

Nutrition for the developing brain and eyes.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) are long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids that accumulate rapidly in the brain and retina during late pregnancy and the first two years of life.

DHA is a major structural fat of the brain's grey matter and the retina, while ARA supports cell membrane structure, growth signalling and immune regulation. Caprivita formulations supply DHA and ARA at levels consistent with international infant nutrition guidance, alongside iodine, iron, zinc, choline and B-group vitamins that also contribute to normal cognitive development.

Immune Development

Supporting natural defences from the start.

Infants are born with an immature immune system that develops progressively through exposure, nutrition and the establishment of a healthy gut microbiome. A large share of immune tissue is located in the gut, which is why digestive health and immune health are closely linked.

• Prebiotics (GOS/FOS) supporting beneficial gut bacteria and gut barrier function.
• Nucleotides, which are studied for their role in immune cell development.
• Vitamins A, C, D and zinc, iron and selenium, which contribute to the normal function of the immune system.

Vitamins & Minerals

Complete micronutrient support.

Micronutrients are required in small amounts but are essential to nearly every process in a growing body, from bone mineralisation to oxygen transport and energy metabolism.

• Vitamin D & calcium: normal bone and teeth development.
• Iron: oxygen transport and normal cognitive development.
• Zinc: growth, tissue repair and immune function.
• Iodine: thyroid function and neurological development.
• Vitamins A, C, E: vision, immune defence and antioxidant protection.
• B-group vitamins: energy metabolism and nervous system function.

Growth & Development — The First 1,000 Days

Building the foundation for lifelong health.

The period from conception until a child's second birthday — commonly known as the first 1,000 days — is recognised as one of the most important stages of human development. During this time, the body grows rapidly, the brain forms millions of new neural connections, the immune system matures, and vital organs continue to develop.

By a child's second birthday, the brain has reached approximately 80–85% of its adult size, making the first 1,000 days one of the most active periods of brain development. Adequate nutrition during this window supports growth trajectory, cognitive development and long-term health outcomes.

Stage 1 — Infant Formula (0–6 Months)

Complete nutrition from birth.

Breastfeeding is the best nutrition for infants. Where breastfeeding is not possible or is supplemented, Caprivita Stage 1 provides complete and balanced nutrition as the sole source of nourishment from birth to six months of age.

• Whey-dominant protein profile suited to newborn digestion.
• DHA and ARA for brain and visual development.
• GOS/FOS prebiotics for digestive comfort.
• Full micronutrient profile meeting international standards for infant formula.

Stage 2 — Follow-On Formula (6–12 Months)

Nutrition alongside first foods.

From around six months, infants begin complementary feeding while milk remains a central part of the diet. Caprivita Stage 2 is formulated for this transition, with nutrient levels adjusted for the increased requirements of older infants.

• Higher iron and zinc to match rising requirements after six months.
• Adjusted protein and energy density for a more active infant.
• Continued DHA, ARA and prebiotic support.

Stage 3 — Growing Up Milk (12–36 Months)

Supporting toddlers through a period of discovery.

Toddlers are increasingly active, more selective about food, and still growing quickly. Caprivita Stage 3 is designed to help fill common nutritional gaps in the toddler diet while complementing a varied family menu.

• Calcium and vitamin D for developing bones and teeth.
• Iron and iodine supporting cognitive development.
• Gentle goat milk base with continued prebiotic support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Clear answers to the questions parents ask most.

Scientific References

Selected literature underpinning this handbook.

• World Health Organization. Infant and Young Child Feeding: Model Chapter for Textbooks. Geneva: WHO.
• Codex Alimentarius Commission. Standard for Infant Formula and Formulas for Special Medical Purposes Intended for Infants (CXS 72-1981).
• EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies. Scientific Opinion on the essential composition of infant and follow-on formulae. EFSA Journal.
• Prosser CG. Compositional and functional characteristics of goat milk and relevance as a base for infant formula. Journal of Food Science.
• Koletzko B, et al. Global standard for the composition of infant formula. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition.
• Hernell O, et al. Clinical benefits of milk fat globule membranes for infants and children. Journal of Pediatrics.
• Vandenplas Y, et al. Prebiotics in infant formula. Gut Microbes.
• Innis SM. Dietary omega-3 fatty acids and the developing brain. Brain Research.
• Victora CG, et al. Breastfeeding in the 21st century. The Lancet.
• Black RE, et al. Maternal and child undernutrition and overweight in low-income and middle-income countries. The Lancet.