Application of Wood’s model to lactation curve of Italian Heavy Draft horse mares.
Abstract: The aim of this work was to study, using Wood's model, the lactation curve in Italian Heavy Draft horse (IHDH) mares, both for milk yield and composition. Interest in mare's milk has grown for use in human nutrition, as a substitute for human and cow milk for premature newborns and allergic children. For this study, 7 IHDH mares were used. Milk yield was evaluated from d 15 to 180 postpartum (every 15 d). Wood's lactation model was used to describe milk yield, fat, protein, and lactose lactation curves in the first 180 d in milk (DIM), with a prediction to 210 DIM. Mean values recorded across the considered lactation period for milk yield and constituents were 16.11 kg of milk/d, 11.38 g of fat/kg, 15.54 g of protein/kg, and 69.72 g of lactose/kg. The lactation curve showed a peak at 69 DIM, with a persistence index of 6.26. Fat (g/kg) and protein (g/kg) lactation curves decreased during the lactation period; instead, the lactose (g/kg) curve increased from the first to the last DIM. The coefficient of determination values indicated a good model fit by Wood's model application to IHDH mare lactation. The research showed good aptitude of a heavy horse breed, such as IHDH, for milk production.
Copyright © 2012 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2012-08-15 PubMed ID: 22901483DOI: 10.3168/jds.2012-5513Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research article discusses the use of Wood’s model to examine the lactation curve in Italian Heavy Draft Horse (IHDH) mares. The study took into consideration milk yield and composition due to interest in mare’s milk for human nutrition. The research affirmed that the IHDH mare is an apt breed for milk production.
Research Background and Objective
- The study was prompted by the growing interest in the application of mare’s milk in human nutrition, notably as a substitute for human and cow milk for premature newborns and children with allergies.
- It aimed to apply Wood’s Model, a mathematical tool, to study the lactation curve in Italian Heavy Draft Horse (IHDH) mares. This includes both the volume (yield) and composition of the milk.
- The purpose of this investigation was to identify the potential of this particular breed (IHDH) for milk production.
Methodology
- Seven IHDH mares were included in the study.
- Milk yield was monitored over a period from day 15 to day 180 postpartum, and evaluation was carried out every 15 days.
- Using Wood’s lactation model, lactation curves for milk yield, fat, protein, and lactose content were described for the first 180 days in milk (DIM), with a prediction extended to 210 DIM.
Key Findings
- The mean values recorded across the lactation period for milk yield and constituents were 16.11 kg of milk/day, 11.38 g of fat/kg, 15.54 g of protein/kg, and 69.72 g of lactose/kg.
- The lactation curve reached its peak at 69 days in milk (DIM), with a persistence index of 6.26.
- The fat and protein lactation curves showed downward trends over the lactation period, meaning fat and protein contents decreased as the lactation progressed.
- Conversely, the lactose lactation curve increased from the first to the last day in milk, indicating that lactose content increased as lactation advanced.
- Wood’s model was found to fit well to IHDH mare lactation data, as evidenced by high values of the coefficient of determination.
- The research highlighted the suitability of the Italian Heavy Draft horse breed for milk production, signifying its potential utility in nutrition science.
Cite This Article
APA
Centoducati P, Maggiolino A, De Palo P, Tateo A.
(2012).
Application of Wood’s model to lactation curve of Italian Heavy Draft horse mares.
J Dairy Sci, 95(10), 5770-5775.
https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2012-5513 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Public Health and Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Bari S.P. per Casamassima, Km 3, 70010 Valenzano (BA), Italy.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Fats / analysis
- Female
- Horses / physiology
- Lactation / physiology
- Lactose / analysis
- Milk / chemistry
- Milk / metabolism
- Milk Proteins / analysis
- Models, Biological
- Postpartum Period / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 12 times.- Huang X, He L, Ma J, Li Y, Li J, Zang C, Hou M, Li X. Ellagic acid on milk production performance, blood and milk hormones, antioxidant capacity and fecal microbial communities in lactating Yili mares. Front Microbiol 2025;16:1656100.
- Rodriguez Velazquez D, Forte L, Varela Guerrero JA, Díaz Alvarado T, Elghandour MMMY, Maggiolino A, De Palo P, Salem AZM. Could Mesquite (Prosopis juliflora) Help Control Gastrointestinal Parasites in Horses?. Animals (Basel) 2025 Apr 28;15(9).
- Pyles M, Agbana M, Hayes S, Flythe M, Lawrence L. The Establishment of Fibrolytic Bacteria in the Foal Gastrointestinal Tract Is Related to the Occurrence of Coprophagy by Foals. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 26;13(17).
- Pyles MB, Brock K, Schendel RR, Lawrence LM. Improved methods for mare milk analysis: Extraction and quantification of mare milk carbohydrates and assessment of FTIR-based macronutrient quantification. Front Nutr 2023;10:1066463.
- Sandagdorj B, Baigalmaa T, Burenjargal S, Horiuchi M, Enkhdalai M, Bayanbat D, Janchiv D, Jamyandorj O, Ulzii-Orshikh P, Nyam-Osor P. Relationship between lactational performance and metabolic parameters of Mongolian native grazing mares. J Equine Sci 2021;32(3):91-98.
- Landi V, Maggiolino A, Salzano A, Claps S, De Palo P, Rufrano D, Pedota G, Neglia G. Evaluation of Different Test-Day Milk Recording Protocols by Wood's Model Application for the Estimation of Dairy Goat Milk and Milk Constituent Yield. Animals (Basel) 2021 Apr 8;11(4).
- Miraglia N, Salimei E, Fantuz F. Equine Milk Production and Valorization of Marginal Areas-A Review. Animals (Basel) 2020 Feb 22;10(2).
- Raspa F, Cavallarin L, McLean AK, Bergero D, Valle E. A Review of the Appropriate Nutrition Welfare Criteria of Dairy Donkeys: Nutritional Requirements, Farm Management Requirements and Animal-Based Indicators. Animals (Basel) 2019 Jun 1;9(6).
- De Palo P, Maggiolino A, Albenzio M, Casalino E, Neglia G, Centoducati G, Tateo A. Survey of biochemical and oxidative profile in donkey foals suckled with one natural and one semi-artificial technique. PLoS One 2018;13(6):e0198774.
- De Palo P, Maggiolino A, Milella P, Centoducati N, Papaleo A, Tateo A. Artificial suckling in Martina Franca donkey foals: effect on in vivo performances and carcass composition. Trop Anim Health Prod 2016 Jan;48(1):167-73.
- De Palo P, Maggiolino A, Centoducati P, Tateo A. Slaughtering age effect on carcass traits and meat quality of italian heavy draught horse foals. Asian-Australas J Anim Sci 2013 Nov;26(11):1637-43.
- De Palo P, Tateo A, Maggiolino A, Centoducati P. Effect of nutritive level on carcass traits and meat quality of IHDH foals. Anim Sci J 2014 Jul;85(7):780-6.
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