Lactation in horses refers to the process by which mares produce milk to nourish their foals following birth. This physiological process involves the mammary glands, which undergo significant changes during pregnancy and after foaling to produce and secrete milk. The composition of equine milk includes essential nutrients, antibodies, and bioactive components that support the growth and immune function of the foal. The lactation period in horses typically lasts for several months, during which the mare's nutritional and health status can impact milk production and quality. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the biology, management, and nutritional aspects of lactation in horses, as well as its implications for foal development and mare health.
Gay CC, Sullivan ND, Wilkinson JS, McLean JD, Blood DC.The case histories and clinical findings of 15 ponies with hyperlipaemia are presented. The disease was characterised by hyperlipidaemia with inappetance, progressing somnolence, muscle fasciculation, diarrhoea, and ventral oedema as the predominant clinical findings. Post mortem examinations of 12 ponies showed extensive lipidosis and vascular thrombosis with widespread secondary changes. Most cases occurred in late pregnant and early lactating mares in the summer months and it is postulated that the disease was initiated in this group by a falling nutritional plane in the face of high nutrie...
Johnson HD, Vanjonack WJ.Recent data on various environmental stressors and blood hormone patterns are presented for lactating cattle. Known stressor effects of such factors as environmental temperature, air pollution, and noise on the plasma thyroxine, growth hormone, cortisol, prolactin, progesterone, luteinzing hormone, epinephrine, and norepinephrine of lactating cattle are discussed. Information on stressor effects is lacking on glucagon, insulin, vasopressin, calcitonin, oxytocin, thyrotrophic hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, melatonin, parathyroid hormone, and estrogens in the lactating cow. The importanc...
Forsyth IA, Rossdale PD, Thomas CR.Small samples of mammary secretion were collected from eight Thoroughbred mares during the last week of pregnancy, at foaling and after 1 week of lactation. Specific assays showed the presence of both lactose and triglyceride in all samples before birth and progressive increases in their concentrations in colostrum and in milk. Levels of 6-0 g lactose/100 ml and 1-8 g triglyceride/100 ml were present in milk at 7 to 9 days post partum. The secretory capacity of the udder is thus normally established well before parturition in the mare. Attempts to demonstrate the occurrence of a placental lact...
Brand A, de Bois CH, Vandenhende R.Parenteral administration of 2.5-5 mg. of prostaglandin F2alpha to horses, 15 mg. to heifers or 25-30 mg to lactating cows and 15 mg. to sheep will induce regression of the corpus luteum (luteolysis) and a fertile oestrus within 48-72 hours. Because of their luteolytic effect prostaglandins may be used in various indications in the field of reproduction. An exception is the pig in which administration of prostaglandins does not induce luteolysis before D12 and therefore fails to induce oestrus. In horses, cattle and sheep, administration of prostaglandins during the first four days of the cycl...
Rouse BT, Ingram DG.Thirty-six samples of colostrum and milk were collected from ponies at various intervals after parturition. Levels of total protein and immunoglobulins IgG and IgG(T) were determined. In samples collected in the first 3 hours , the total protein concentration was approximately twice that of serum protein and the immunoglobulins IgG and IgG(T) accounted for 30 per cent and 10 per cent respectively of this protein. The ratio of IgG to IgG(T) was similar to that in serum. After suckling, a marked decline in both total protein and immunoglobulin concentration occurred. In addition, the relative co...
Johnston RH, Kamstra LD, Kohler PH.A CONDITION known as “foal heat” scours often develops in young foals during the mare's first estrum, which usually commences about 9 days post-partum. Various causative factors that have been suggested, although not scientifically established, include: (1) Changes in milk composition during the heat period (Henry and Morrison, 1923; Linton, 1931; Holmes and Lindquist, 1947; Doll, 1956), (2) ingestation of genital discharge (Sohnie, 1910; Udall, 1943; Siegmond, 1961), (3) ingestation of straw, feces, grass and other foreign matter (Udall, 1943) and (4) overloading of the foal's digestive t...
Journal of biochemistryNovember 1, 1963
Volume 54 388-397 doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.jbchem.a127804
JOHKE T.This research article investigates the differences in acid-soluble nucleotides in the milk of various species including cows, goats, mares, and humans through different stages of lactation, and compares the nucleotide […]
Taveiros AW, Oliveira MA, Lima PF, Tenório Filho F, Bartolomeu CC, Santos MH, Oliveira LR, Iunes-Souza TC, Freitas JC.Ten pluriparous mares were used as donors to supply embryos which were transferred into 103 recipients, 31 of which were nulliparous, 34 were pluriparous and lactating, and 38 were pluriparous and non-lactating. The embryos were recovered eight days after ovulation and pregnancy was confirmed by ultrasound six days after the transfer; the length of the embryos was measured ultrasonographically on days 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25 and 30 after the embryo transfer. One hundred and fifteen of 200 flushes provided embryos, 12 being degenerate and 103 being viable embryos. From the 103 embryo transfers c...
Benamou AE, Harris RC.The changes in carnitine in plasma and milk during the first 3 months of lactation were studied in 14 broodmares and their foals. Six of the mares (Group S) were given a supplement of 10 g carnitine split between the morning and evening feeds, starting 2 weeks before birth. At birth the plasma carnitine concentration in Group S mares was about twice that in Group NS mares (no supplement). In both groups the concentration initially declined in the days after birth. Whilst this trend was reversed in Group S mares, the concentration in Group NS mares remained at a reduced level for the remainder ...
Mercier P, Alves-Branco F, Sapper Mde F, White CR.To evaluate the safety of an orally administered ivermectin and praziquantel paste with regard to variables associated with clinical findings, parturition, lactation, maternal care, and neonate viability in pregnant mares. Methods: 40 pregnant mares. Methods: Mares were randomly allocated into treatment (n = 20) and control (20) groups and administered a placebo or 3 times the therapeutic dosage of ivermectin (0.6 mg/kg) and praziquantel (4.5 mg/kg) at 14-day intervals until parturition. Physical examinations were performed on mares and their foals after parturition (on postpartum days 30, 60,...
Brand A, de Bois CH, Vandenhende R.Parenteral administration of 2.5-5 mg. of prostaglandin F2alpha to horses, 15 mg. to heifers or 25-30 mg to lactating cows and 15 mg. to sheep will induce regression of the corpus luteum (luteolysis) and a fertile oestrus within 48-72 hours. Because of their luteolytic effect prostaglandins may be used in various indications in the field of reproduction. An exception is the pig in which administration of prostaglandins does not induce luteolysis before D12 and therefore fails to induce oestrus. In horses, cattle and sheep, administration of prostaglandins during the first four days of the cycl...
Ordakowski-Burk AL, Kronfeld DS, Williams CA, Gay LS, Sklan DJ.To identify changes in folate status of mares and foals during lactation and growth, respectively. Methods: 20 Thoroughbred mares and foals. Methods: Pregnant mares, and following foaling the same mares with their foals, were maintained on mixed grass-legume pasture and fed either a traditional dietary supplement rich in sugar and starch (SS) or a dietary supplement high in fat and fiber (FF). Blood samples were collected monthly from mares and foals up to 6 months after foaling. Total folate concentration in feed and forage was determined. Analyses of plasma folate, RBC folate, plasma homocys...
Marlow CH, van Tonder EM, Hayward FC, van der Merwe SS, Price LE.Non-pregnant Thoroughbred mares were stabled and subjected to 2 trials, each 24 h in duration, to establish their total consumption of a mixture of freshly cut, lush green perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata) in approximately equal proportions; and to compare the total intake of crude protein, calcium, phosphorus and mass of the grass mixture on a dry matter basis with their daily nutritional requirements. The body mass of each mare was calculated at the commencement of each trial. In the first trial 2 lactating mares with foals at foot, 65 days and 8 days of ...
Flisińska-Bojanowska A, Gill J, Komosa M.1. The diurnal changes in the levels of lactic (LA) and pyruvic (PA) acids and values of pH were studied in standard-bred mares and their foals, for 13 weeks of foal life, throughout 2 years. 2. The studies began when a foal was 7 days old and were repeated every 2 weeks until foals reached 13 weeks of age. 3. Blood samples were taken every 4 hr for one day, each second week. 4. In the LA, PA levels and pH values no diurnal rhythm was stated in lactating mares during study periods. 5. In foals the diurnal rhythm in LA and PA occurred in the 3rd month of their life, with the acrophase at night ...
Kolyganova TI, Arzumanyan VG, Matvienko MA, Rodionova AA, Korshunova DS, Shatunova PO, Yastrebova NE.Antimicrobial activity of milk whey in different mammals against Candida albicans yeast cells was studied by a spectrophotometric method. The activity increased in the order goat→horse→camel→cow→human→mouse. The level of whey activity in mice was higher by 3 and 10 times than in humans and goats, respectively. Similar changes were noted for activity of the whey fraction <100 kDa containing a complex of antimicrobial polypeptides, and there was a direct correlation between these two parameters (r=0.881; p<0.05). The total activity of whey had a high degree of correlation with th...
Chavatte-Palmer P, Duchamp G, Palmer E, Ousey JC, Rossdale PD, Lombès M.Progesterone, oestrogen and glucocorticoid receptor concentrations in the uterus and mammary glands of pregnant mares during mid- to late gestation (from day 150 of gestation to term) were measured by binding assays to investigate the hormonal mechanisms involved in pregnancy maintenance and lactation. Uterine progesterone receptor concentrations did not increase significantly with increasing gestational age (from 67.8 +/- 13.7 to 126.1 +/- 48.7fmol mg(-1) protein), whereas oestrogen receptor concentrations were significantly higher in pregnant mares (271.7 +/- 28.9 fmol mg(-1) protein) than i...
Robles M, Rousseau-Ralliard D, Dubois C, Josse T, Nouveau É, Dahirel M, Wimel L, Couturier-Tarrade A, Chavatte-Palmer P.In horses, the prevalence of obesity is high and associated with serious metabolic pathologies. Being a broodmare has been identified as a risk factor for obesity. In other species, maternal obesity is known to affect the development of the offspring. This article is a follow-up study of previous work showing that Obese mares (O, n = 10, body condition score > 4.25 at insemination) were more insulin resistant and presented increased systemic inflammation during pregnancy compared to Normal mares (N, n = 14, body condition score < 4 at insemination). Foals born to O mares were more insulin-resi...
Blanco-Doval A, Azkargorta M, Iloro I, Beaskoetxea J, Elortza F, Barron LJR, Aldai N.Mare milk has traditionally been attributed a number of health promoting properties. However, knowledge on its composition and functionality remains scarce, with particularly limited studies on mare milk proteomics. This study deeply characterized mare milk proteome accounting for both caseins and proteins in the whey fraction, also addressing the impact of lactation stage and different management systems. Milk samples from Basque Mountain Horse breed mares belonging to three different farms and three lactation stages were analysed after in-gel and in-solution digestion using nLC-MS/MS. Among ...
Smith L, Moran AW, Al-Rammahi M, Daly K, Shirazi-Beechey SP.Studies carried out in several species have demonstrated that detection of low-calorie sweeteners in the lumen of the intestine, by the sweet receptor, T1R2-T1R3, initiates a signaling pathway leading to enhanced expression and activity of intestinal Na/glucose cotransporter 1, SGLT1. This results in an increased gut capacity to absorb glucose, sodium chloride and water, the basis for oral rehydration therapy. Horses express T1R2, T1R3 and downstream signaling elements in the intestinal tissue. As such, the potential of sweetener-stimulation of T1R2-T1R3 leading to upregulation of SGLT1 allows...
Terpeluk ER, Schäfer J, Finkler-Schade C, Rauch E, Rohn K, Schuberth HJ.The quality of equine colostrum is typically defined by refractometry or the concentration of maternal antibodies. However, the activity of other equine colostral bioactive molecules has not yet been investigated. This study analyzed whether the administration of a fermentation product (SCFP) influences the biological activity of mare colostrum and whether the biological activity of colostrum has a lasting immunomodulating effect for foals. A total of fourteen pregnant mares received 20 g/day of a SCFP for a period of twelve weeks prior to the calculated date of birth (SCFP-group). Twelve pre...
Quattrini C, Knych HK, Magdesian KG.Alprazolam is used to facilitate mare-foal bonding in aggressive or anxious postpartum mares. In humans, alprazolam crosses the blood-milk barrier, but the amount transferred into milk is minor and compatible with breastfeeding as the relative infant dose is < 10%. Similar data are not available for horses. The aim of this study was to measure alprazolam in serum and milk of mares (milk: serum ratio) administered alprazolam, and to determine alprazolam serum concentrations in nursing foals to estimate the extent of absorption. This was a prospective observational study involving 7 healthy...
Böckmann S, Trzebiatowski L, Georgiev P, Büttner K, Wehrend A.Immunoglobulins ingested via colostrum must remain intact to be absorbed by the neonate. Equine colostrum contains antitrypsin activity, which likely protects these proteins from proteolysis in the gastrointestinal tract. Objective: To quantify antitrypsin activity in equine colostrum and milk, describe its temporal changes during the first five days after parturition, compare actitvity between left and right mammary glands, evaluate differences between nulliparous and pluriparous mares, and examine associations with immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations and mare age. Methods: This retrospecti...
Affonso FJ, Alonso MA, Bringel B, Douglas R, de Paula Nogueira G, Boakari YL, Fernandes CB.Glucose metabolism adapts to gestation, resulting in progressive physiological insulin resistance and increased insulin secretion to maintain maternal euglycemia and glucose availability for the developing fetus. These changes can impact mare fertility and maternal and neonatal health. This is the first comparison of body condition, regional adiposity, insulin and glucose dynamics, lipid metabolism, and cytokine production between lactating and non-lactating mares before, during pregnancy, and early postpartum. Twelve pregnancies from 9 broodmares, five nonlactating (NL) and seven lactating (L...
Blanco-Doval A, Barron LJR, Bustamante MÁ, Aldai N.Mare milk has often been considered a food product with potential functional properties. However, the bioactive compound composition of mare milk, including vitamins and other minor bioactive compounds, as well as factors affecting this composition have scarcely been studied. Therefore, the present study aimed to characterize the changes during lactation in the content of water- and fat-soluble vitamins and total polyphenols, and the total antioxidant capacity of mare milk from semi-extensive farms. A total of 310 individual milk samples from 18 mares belonging to three commercial farms and 12...
Tainturier D, Tainturier B, Michaud S, Briand-Amirat L, Topie E, Moreno D.A total of 147 mares of different breeds (110 were sport or race horses, often very valuable) have been monitored over 5 years from 2012 to 2016. When at or near term, the mares were monitored in order to induce foaling, by checking the mammary development by palpation, analysing the colour and consistency of the precolostrum, estimating the calcium and antibodies concentrations in the precolostrum and by measuring the plasmatic progestagens concentration every day at 6 p.m. At the end of gestation, it has been observed that the progestagens rate levelled off (the top concentration varies from...
The research aims to study the dynamics of reproductive system pathologies in mares of Kazakh and Mugalzhar horse breeds and their impact on the reproductive traits of the breeding stock. The object of the research was horses of the Kazakh and Mugalzhar breeds. The formation of experimental groups was carried out using the pair-analog method. It was found that the frequency of detection of infertile mares is 13.8-25.0%. Subinvolution of the uterus from the total number of infertile mares is 8.3-10.7%, endometritis - 16.6-23.3%, atony and hypotonia of the uterus - 8.3-13.3%, ovarian diseases - ...
Pyles MB, Fowler AL, Crum AD, Hayes SH, Schendel RR, Lawrence LM.Mare milk is the primary source of nutrients for neonatal foals and contains various carbohydrates. Milk oligosaccharides are complex carbohydrates that are resistant to enzymatic digestion and provide support for the immune system and developing microbiome in the neonate. However, factors influencing the synthesis of milk carbohydrates in the mare are not well understood. This study aimed to determine the effects of dietary nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) on mare milk composition and yield. Thoroughbred mares were paired by age and last breeding date then randomly assigned to one of two diet...
Wang C, Wang J, Ma B, Liu T, Yuan X, Meng J, Zeng Y.: This study investigated the effects of dietary bamboo leaf extract (BLE) on milk parameters and intestinal microbiota in lactating mares. : Twenty-four mares of similar age (10 ± 2 years), weight (360.62 ± 15.23 kg) and body condition were selected for this study and randomly divided into four groups of six mares each: an untreated control group (CG) and three experimental groups (EG1, EG2, EG3) were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0, 10, 20, or 30 g/day of BLE, respectively, for 60 days. Then, horse milk composition, antioxidant activity, and immunoglobulin levels along with the rela...
Octaviano JI, Alonso MA, Boakari YL, Gomes V, Mori CS, Fleury PDC, Fernandes CB.Monitoring equine parturition effectively is essential for preemptive intervention in periparturient issues and ensuring the overall well-being of both mares and foals. However, its implementation in breeding farms is challenging due to variable gestational lengths and nocturnal births. Predictive techniques have the potential to streamline the monitoring process, reduce labor intensity, and minimize costs. Research on foaling prediction in mares carrying mule or equine clone fetuses is scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to comparatively analyze foaling prediction parameters in mares pregnant...
Liu J, Huang X, Wang Y, Wang Y, Luo R, Lu X, Cao K, Xing J, Tu Y, Zheng W.Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are emerging contaminants threatening public health, yet their transmission risk via mare milk products remains understudied. Using metagenomics, we analyzed lactic acid bacteria (LAB)-inoculated fermented, naturally fermented, raw, and pasteurized mare milk to investigate the effect of LAB inoculation on the distribution and transmission pathways of ARGs in mare milk. The results showed that naturally fermented, raw, and pasteurized mare milk had the highest number of pathogens, relative abundance of ARGs, and relative abundance of mobile genetic elements (M...
Domańska D, Witkowska-Piłaszewicz O, Trela M, Pawłowski K, Pawliński B, Domino M.Mastitis is an emerging health concern in lactating mares, particularly given the growing commercial interest in mare's milk. This study evaluated the diagnostic potential of acute phase proteins (APPs), specifically serum amyloid A (SAA), milk amyloid A (MAA), and haptoglobin (Hp), measured in blood and milk as indicators of clinical and subclinical mastitis. Twenty-four Thoroughbred mares were prospectively monitored during lactation and weaning. Plasma and milk samples were collected and analyzed using commercial ELISA kits. Plasma SAA concentrations were significantly higher in mares with ...
Losty C, Sreenivas S.Feminist sport researchers examine the unique experiences of female athletes as crucial in promoting women's sport participation and parity in opportunities (Lebel et al., 2021). Insight into the unique stressors encountered by female jockeys in Ireland (Irl) and the United Kingdom (UK) may provide sport scientists, practitioners and policy makers with a greater awareness of the specific supports they need (Losty & Sreenivas, 2023). Deeply personal and complex decisions for female athletes, such as starting a family, can be shaped by various professional performance factors. The impact of beco...
