Equine Milk Production and Valorization of Marginal Areas-A Review.
Authors: Miraglia Nicoletta, Salimei Elisabetta, Fantuz Francesco
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Equine Milk Production and Valorisation of Marginal Areas Interest in dairy production from horses and donkeys has resurged as a niche agricultural enterprise, particularly in economically vulnerable rural regions where alternative livestock enterprises offer limited viability. This comprehensive review examined the compositional, nutritional and management characteristics of equine milk production systems, alongside the practical and regulatory considerations that underpin commercial dairy operations. Equine milk presents distinctive compositional advantages—notably higher lactose content and lower casein levels compared to bovine milk—that confer potential health benefits for human consumers, particularly those with bovine milk sensitivities; simultaneously, the authors highlight that successful dairy enterprises depend critically on integrated pasture management that simultaneously supports animal welfare, production targets, and environmental conservation. Farriers and veterinary professionals should recognise that the intensifying interest in equine dairy reflects broader momentum toward sustainable rural development, with implications for herd health protocols, nutritional management, and welfare monitoring that may differ materially from traditional equine production systems. For practitioners engaged with working or sport horses in marginal agricultural areas, understanding equine dairy as a complementary enterprise may offer clients economic resilience whilst maintaining landscape stewardship and biodiversity objectives.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Consider equine dairy production as a diversification strategy for marginal or underutilized land, combining economic viability with environmental stewardship.
- •Pasture-based systems are essential for equine dairy operations—leverage natural grazing to meet both production and conservation objectives.
- •Understand equine milk's unique compositional profile (distinct from bovine milk) when advising on animal nutrition and milk product development for rural enterprises.
Key Findings
- •Equine dairy production offers potential health-promoting properties through milk with distinctive compositional and nutritional characteristics.
- •Pasture-based management systems for dairy horses and donkeys enable simultaneous achievement of production goals, biodiversity preservation, and landscape safeguard.
- •Equine dairy chains represent an economically viable pathway for sustainable rural development in marginalized agricultural areas.
- •Proper feeding management and milk hygiene protocols are critical factors for emerging dairy equine enterprises.