Composition of Mares’ Milk as Compared with that of Other Species

Abstract

26 samples of milk produced by 1 Palomino and 4 Percheron mares were assayed for water, protein, ascorbic acid, P, K, Mg, and Ca. The milk was produced in the early lactation period during late winter and early spring months when the mares were subsisting principally upon hay and grain. The milk from the Palomino mare contained more protein, P, K, and Mg than the Percheron mares'' milk The average values for the milk of the Percheron mares were: water 89.7%, protein 2.3%, reduced ascorbic acid 89 mg. per liter, P 63 mg., K 64 mg., Mg 9 mg., and Ca 102 mg. per 100 g. These values indicate that mares'' milk contains more water than cow, goat, ewe, buffalo, camel, or human milk; less protein than cow, goat, ewe, buffalo, or camel milk, but more than human milk; more ascorbic acid than cow, goat, or human milk; less P than cow or goat milk but more than human milk; only about 1/3 as much K as cow or goat milk; and less Mg and Ca than cow or goat milk but about 4 times as much Ca as human milk. The Ca/P ratio is considerably higher in mares'' milk than in cows'' or goats'' milk but possibly lower than in human milk.