Report on a Milking Mule: Milk Qualitative Characteristics during Lactation.
Authors: Martini Mina, Degl'Innocenti Andrea, Altomonte Iolanda, Sodi Irene, Bocci Carlotta, Fanelli Diana, Moroni Rebecca, Panzani Duccio, Camillo Francesco, Salari Federica
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Mule Milk Composition and Changes Through Lactation Mule embryo transfer has become an established reproductive technique, yet little is known about the nutritional quality of milk produced by these surrogate dams—a notable gap given that mules' lactation differs fundamentally from their equine counterparts. Researchers tracked milk samples from a single mule from 6 hours post-foaling through 180 days in milk, analysing gross composition (protein, fat, ash), mineral content, and detailed fatty acid profiles. The mule's milk averaged 1.97 g/100 mL protein, 0.90 g/100 mL fat, and 0.39 g/100 mL ash, with a favourable fatty acid profile comprising 50% saturated, 31.8% monounsaturated, and 18.2% polyunsaturated fatty acids, with linoleic and linolenic acids predominating among the latter. Notably, milk composition shifted substantially during early lactation (colostral through 14 days), with dry matter, protein, fat, and ash all declining significantly, whilst n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations decreased toward late lactation—changes interpreted as adaptive responses to the foal's evolving nutritional demands. For equine professionals managing mule lactation or assessing foal development, these baseline compositional data provide essential reference values, though observations from a single individual warrant further validation across multiple mules to establish normative ranges and practical feeding guidelines.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Mules can successfully lactate when used as embryo transfer recipients and surrogate dams, expanding breeding options for rare genetic lines
- •Mule milk composition shifts throughout lactation; early milk is richer in protein and fat to support foal growth, requiring knowledge of these changes for orphan foal management if needed
- •The fatty acid profile of mule milk (balanced saturated and unsaturated fatty acids) provides baseline reference data for nutritional support of mule-reared foals or potential milk replacement formulation
Key Findings
- •Mule milk averaged 1.97 g/100 mL protein, 0.90 g/100 mL fat, and 0.39 g/100 mL ash across lactation
- •Saturated fatty acids comprised 50% of total fat; monounsaturated (31.8%) and polyunsaturated (18.2%) fatty acids made up the other half
- •Protein, fat, dry matter, and ash decreased significantly from early lactation (6 h to 14 DIM)
- •n3 polyunsaturated fatty acids decreased toward the end of lactation, likely reflecting foal growth requirements