The Composition of
Arabian mares’ milk
Author: Magdalena Pieszka
Horse Breeding Department, Agricultural University, Al. Mickiewicza
24/28, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
Email: mpieszka@ar.krakow.pl
; rzpieszk2cyf-kr.edu.pl
Tel: +48 12 6341269, Fax: +48 12
6333307
In the first days
of after birth, foals are normally with their mothers and their only nutrition
is mare’s milk which is the best food for them, as it contains all the
nourishment necessary for the proper growth and development of a young foal.
Researchers show that the quantity of milk drunk by foals during the first
weeks of life does not depend on the foal’s behaviour during suckling. One of
the most important things that has an effect on the milk’s quantity and quality
is the feeding of the mares. The most important thing for any foal is to receive
the necessary components in the proper proportions and quantity, because the
growth rate of young foals is at its most intensive during that time.
The level of
particular components in mares milk is respectively low compared to the milk of
other domestic animals. That is why foals duplicate their weight at birth later
than is the case for the progeny of other domestically-bred animals.
Table 1. Building components in milk of domestic
mammals and their growth rate. (by Krzymowski 1998)
|
Animal species |
Number of days
necessary to duplicate the weight at birth |
Protein in milk
(%) |
Ash in milk (%) |
|
Man |
180 |
1,6 |
0,2 |
|
Horse |
60 |
2,2 |
0,5 |
|
Cow |
47 |
3,5 |
0,8 |
|
Sheep |
10 |
6,5 |
1,0 |
|
Pig |
8 |
7,3 |
1,0 |
|
Dog |
8 |
7,1 |
1,3 |
|
Cat |
7 |
9,1 |
0,6 |
|
Rabbit |
6 |
14,0 |
2,2 |
The quantity and rate of all milk components affects the intensity and correct growth and development of all mammals, horses included. Lambs and piglets fed with milk containing similar composition (about 1200 kcal, about 6% of protein and about 0,8% of ash) duplicate their birth weight after about 8-10 days but foals drinking milk with a 2/3 lower components content duplicate their weight at birth after 60 days of life.
Mares’ milk composition changes during lactation. These
changes could be connected to the physiological status of the mare, including
the mares’ heat cycles and pregnancy. These changes could have an indirect
effect on foals’ growth and development. In the first hours after parturition the
mam
Milk’s components could be divided into 2 main groups:
building components and energy components. Protein and ash are classified as 1
group and fat and carbohydrates as another group.
Table 2. Composition of domestic animals’ milk. (by Bobek
1989).
|
Animal species |
Milk
components [w %] |
|||||
|
Water |
Dry matter |
Protein |
Fat |
Lactose |
Ash |
|
|
Cow |
87,8 |
12,2 |
3,5 |
3,5 |
4,5 |
0,8 |
|
Horse |
90,0 |
10,0 |
2,2 |
1,1 |
6,1 |
0,5 |
|
Sheep |
82,5 |
17,5 |
6,5 |
6,1 |
4,5 |
1,0 |
|
Goat |
85,8 |
14,2 |
4,4 |
4,4 |
4,6 |
0,8 |
|
Pig |
80,0 |
20,0 |
7,3 |
8,4 |
3,3 |
1,0 |
In wild horses lactation lasts for 8-9 months or even longer. Sometimes milk secretion does not stop even after the birth of the next foal and mares can feed two foals together for some time. But in domestic horses lactation lasts for about 6 months and its end is controlled by man. In the artificial conditions created for horses by man, a mare normally gives birth and rears one foal per year. Pregnancy in a mare normally lasts for 333 days, or about 11 months, so to fulfil the above mentioned condition the mare must be covered in the first heat cycle after she has given birth. So we can say the broodmare is pregnant nearly all the time (except the short period from parturition to covering). If man lets her feed her foal longer than 6 months, then the mare would be overexploited. That is why it is said that lactation should last no longer than 6-7 months, or in other words during the low pregnancy period when the fetal growth is not so intensive (compare to the last months of pregnancy).
Composition
of Arabian Mares’ Milk: Because foals normally
drink only milk during the first month of their life it is necessary to know
exactly the mares’ milk composition.
All the Arabian mares taken
under consideration in my research were bred by Michałów Stud, Poland. All
of them were able to secrete and produce milk and had a proper maternal
instinct. Also all the foals had the normal instincts of searching for the
teats and had a proper suckling impulse. On average the first suckling took
place about 115 minutes after birth and about 65 minutes after first standing
up (the fastest foal: 35 and 5 minutes; the slowest foal: 210 and 125 minutes).
It is necessary to mention the first meconium excretion. Colostrum plays very
important role in that process. On average the first meconium excretion took
place about 180 minutes after birth and about 65 minutes after first suckling
(the fastest foal: 5 minutes after birth before first suckling; the slowest
foal: 245 minutes after birth and 155 minutes after first suckling). Nearly
half the number of new born foals excreted meconium before first suckling.
Young foals were drinking milk very frequently – more than once per hour – which
means more than 24 times per day! Such frequent emptying of the mam
Fat
The average level
of fat in Arabian mares’ milk during the studied period was 1,67%. The curve
for the fat level was not regular – the highest level was observed at 2 and 22
days after parturition (1,81%) and the lowest on the 14th day of lactation
(1,54%). It is possible to observe the decreasing tendency during the first 6
days after parturition. (Fig. 1)
Fig. 1. Fat level in Arabian mares’
milk during first month of lactation
Protein
In the studied period the average level of protein was
2,53%. The curve drawn for the protein level showed a significant decreasing
tendency during the study period. The highest level was observed on day 2 of
lactation – 3,43% and the lowest at 30 days – 2,09%. (Fig. 2)
Fig. 2. Protein level in Arabian
mares’ milk during first month of lactation
Lactose
The average level of milk sugar in Arabian mares’ milk was 6,19%. The curve drawn for that component showed a significant increasing tendency. The most intensive increase was noted between 8 and 10 days of lactation. The highest level of lactose was observed at 30 days of lactation – 6,3%% and the lowest at day 2 – 5,94%. (Fig. 3)
Fig. 3. Lactose level in Arabian
mares’ milk during first month of lactation
Dry matter
In the studied period the average level of dry matter
was 11,09%. The curve drawn for the dry matter level showed a significant
decreasing tendency during all the studied time but the most intensive was between
days 2 and 8. The highest level was observed at day 2 of lactation – 11,91% and
the lowest at day 30 – 10,72%. (Fig. 4)
Fig. 4. Dry matter level in Arabian
mares’ milk during first month of lactation
Calcium
In the studied milk of Arabian mares during 30 days of
lactation, the average level of calcium was 913,85 mg/kg of milk. The rate of
calcium to phosphorus was 1,24;1 which means for 1 unit of phosphorus there are
1,24 units of calcium. The curve drawn for the calcium level was not regular -
the lowest level was observed at day 2 of lactation – 879,63 mg/kg of milk and
the highest at 10 and 22 days – 947,69
and 99,268 mg/kg of milk. (Fig. 5)
Fig. 5. Calcium level in Arabian mares’
milk during first month of lactation
Phosphorus
The average level of phosphorus was 732,24 mg/kg of
milk in the studied milk of Arabian mares during 30 days of lactation. The
curve drawn for the phosphorus level showed a significant decreasing tendency -
the highest level was observed at day 2 of lactation – 1066,14 mg/kg of milk
and the lowest at 18 days – 615,03 mg/kg
of milk. (Fig. 6)
Fig. 6. Phosphorus level in Arabian
mares’ milk during first month of lactation
Magnesium
In the studied milk of Arabian mares during 30 days of
lactation the average level of magnesium was 95,86 mg/kg of milk. The curve
drawn for the magnesium level showed a significant decreasing tendency
especially between 4 and 12 days - the highest level was observed at day 4 of
lactation – 118,91 mg/kg of milk and the lowest at 18 days – 84,61 mg/kg of
milk. (Fig. 7)
Fig. 7. Magnesium level in Arabian
mares’ milk during first month of lactation
Natrium
Arabian mares were characterized by an average level of natrium of 132,04
mg/kg of milk. After drawing the curve for this mineral it was stated that during first 12
days the level was decreasing significantly with a little increase at 14 and 16
days. The highest level was observed at day 2 of lactation – 164,1 mg/kg of
milk and the lowest at 18 days – 119,52 mg/kg of milk. (Fig. 8)
Fig. 8. Natrium level in Arabian
mares’ milk during first month of lactation
Potassium
During the first 30 days of lactation the milk of Arabian mares was characterized
by an average level of potassium of 631,82 mg/kg of milk. After drawing the
curve for this mineral it was stated that during first 6 days and then
between 14 and 18 days the level was decreasing significantly. But in the last
days of observation the tendency was increasing. The highest level was observed
at day 2 of lactation – 767,44 mg/kg of milk and the lowest at 18 days – 567,68
mg/kg of milk. (Fig. 9)
Fig. 9. Potassium level in Arabian
mares’ milk during first month of lactation
Iron
In the studied milk of Arabian mares during 30 days of
lactation the average level of iron was 1,68 mg/kg of milk. The curve drawn for
calcium level was not regular - the lowest level was observed at 4 and 26 days
of lactation – 1,44 and 1,31 mg/kg of milk and the highest at 6 and 22 days –
2,14 and 2,12 mg/kg of milk. (Fig. 10)
Fig. 10. Iron level in Arabian
mares’ milk during first month of lactation
Zinc
During the first 30 days of lactation the milk of Arabian mares was characterized by an average level of zinc of 2,55 mg/kg of milk. After drawing the curve for this mineral it was stated that its level was decreasing significantly during all the studied period of lactation especially from 2 to 14 days. The highest level was observed at day 2 of lactation – 3,65 of milk and the lowest at 26 days – 2,21 mg/kg of milk. (Fig. 11)
Fig. 11. Zinc level in Arabian
mares’ milk during first month of lactation
Copper
Arabian mares were characterized by an average level of copper of 0,5
mg/kg of milk. After drawing the curve for this mineral it was stated that the level was
decreasing a little. The highest level was observed at day 2 of lactation –
0,75 mg/kg of milk and the lowest at 30 days – 0,41 mg/kg of milk. (Fig. 12)
Fig. 12. Copper level in Arabian
mares’ milk during first month of lactation
Lithium
In the studied milk of Arabian mares during 30 days of
lactation the average level of lithium was 0,94 mg/kg of milk. The curve drawn
for this mineral level was not regular - the lowest level was observed at 2 and
24 days of lactation – 0,91 and 0,9 mg/kg of milk and the highest at 10 days
– 1,01 mg/kg of milk. (Fig. 13)
Fig. 13. Lithium level in Arabian
mares’ milk during first month of lactation
Conclusion
Lactation in mares is one of the most important factors of horse breeding. Most breeders know the problems connected to keeping alive and rearing an orphan foal. One of the ways of feeding the orphan foal is giving him a milk substitute formula with a composition as similar to the composition of mare’s milk as possible. The composition of the milk is genetically conditioned and depends mainly on the breed, the lactation period and the subsequent pregnancy.
Results of many researches
concerning mares’ milk composition are showed below. These results are
necessary to compare the Arabian mares’ milk with milk of other horses
breeds.
Table 3. Concentration of some components in mares milk according to different breeds (in %)
|
Author and year of data
publication |
Mares’ breed |
Fat |
Protein |
Lactose |
Dry matter |
|
Doreau
et al. 1990 |
Coldblood |
1,96-2,46 |
2,10-2,44 |
6,34-6,58 |
- |
|
Kubiak
et al. 1990 |
Quarter Horse |
0,27-0,39 |
1,45-1,69 |
- |
9,63-9,92 |
|
Smolders et al. 1990 |
Different breeds |
0,57-1,29 |
2,46-1,54 |
3,19-6,62 |
- |
|
Waechli
et al. 1990 |
Different breeds |
|
1,08 |
|
|
|
Doreau
1991 |
Coldblood |
0,95-1,75 |
1,87-2,60 |
6,07-66,3 |
- |
|
Fuentes Garcia et al. 1991 |
Andalusian |
2,36-2,43 |
1,88-3,89 |
5,41-6,58 |
13,40-12,17 |
|
Fuentes Garcia et al. 1993 |
Andalusian and Arabian |
2,32-2,43 1,89-2,01 |
3,12-3,84 2,35-3,33 |
5,39-5,83 5,57-6,13 |
12,65-13,04 11,76-12,10 |
|
Doreau
et al. . 1993 |
Coldblood |
1,27-2,10 |
1,87-3,06 |
6,00-6,63 |