Chemical composition and lipid profile of mare colostrum and milk of the quarter horse breed.
Authors: Barreto Ícaro M L G, Urbano Stela A, Oliveira Chiara A A, Macêdo Cláudia S, Borba Luiz H F, Chags Bruna M E, Rangel Adriano H N
Journal: PloS one
Summary
# Editorial Summary Quarter Horse mares produce colostrum with notably elevated protein concentrations and surprisingly low lactose levels compared to other equine breeds—a distinction with potential implications for foal nutrition strategies and colostrum quality assessment protocols. Researchers collected colostrum samples within six hours of parturition and milk samples from day 7 through the end of lactation (at 14-day intervals) from 34 purebred Quarter Horse mares, stratifying by age, parity, and lactation stage, then analysed chemical composition via standard laboratory methods and characterised the fatty acid profile using gas chromatography. Whilst mare age had negligible effect on milk composition, both lactation stage and parity significantly altered the chemical profile; critically, the lipid fraction showed stage-dependent variation that did not compromise the nutritional quality of the fat component or deviate from the characteristic lipid profile of equine milk. For practitioners managing Quarter Horse foals, these findings suggest that breed-specific reference values may better inform colostrum adequacy assessments and early nutrition planning, and that milk composition shifts during lactation appear sufficiently minor that supplementary feeding decisions need not vary substantially across the lactation cycle in this breed.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Quarter Horse colostrum differs significantly from other breeds in protein and lactose content—monitor foal nursing and consider breed-specific reference values for neonatal care
- •A mare's age is not a predictor of milk quality, but parity and stage of lactation should inform nutritional assessment of nursing foals
- •Milk lipid profile changes naturally through lactation without compromising foal nutrition, so variation over time is expected and normal
Key Findings
- •Quarter Horse colostrum has high protein content and reduced lactose compared to other breeds
- •Milk composition was not influenced by mare age but was altered by lactation stage and birth order
- •Lipid composition varied across lactation stages without diminishing nutritional quality of the lipid fraction