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PloS one2020; 15(9); e0238921; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0238921

Chemical composition and lipid profile of mare colostrum and milk of the quarter horse breed.

Abstract: The objective of this study was to characterize the chemical composition and lipid profile of colostrum and milk of purebred Quarter Horse mares. Thirty-four (34) purebred mares were selected, which were then separated into groups according to age, birth order and lactation stage. Colostrum samples were collected in the first six hours after delivery and milk samples from the 7th postpartum day, with intervals of 14 days until the end of lactation. The samples were refrigerated and sent to the Milk Laboratory of the University (Laboleite-UFRN), where they were analyzed for chemical composition. Colostrum was assessed by refractometry. The lipid profile was determined by gas chromatography through a separation of methyl esters. The data were tabulated and subjected to descriptive statistics and analysis of variance by the F-Test, and the groups were compared by the Tukey test using a significance level of 5%. There was high protein content and reduced lactose content for the colostrum of the Quarter Horse mares, differing from other breeds. The milk composition was not influenced by the mares' age. However, variations in the lactation stage and in the birth order of the Quarter Horse mares altered the milk's chemical composition. There is variation in the lipid composition of milk according to the lactation stage, without changing the characteristic profile of the mares' milk or diminishing the nutritional quality of the lipid fraction.
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Publication Date: 2020-09-14 PubMed ID: 32925944PubMed Central: PMC7489553DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0238921Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article is about a scientific study conducted to understand the chemical makeup and lipid profile of the colostrum (initial form of milk produced by mammals after delivery) and regular milk of purebred Quarter Horse mares.

Structured Objective of the Study

  • The primary aim of the research was to better understand and describe the chemical composition and lipid profile of Quarter Horse mares’ colostrum and milk.

Experiment Structure and Approach

  • Researchers selected a sample of thirty-four (34) purebred Quarter Horse mares for the study.
  • These horses were then arranged into groups based upon several factors like age, the order of birth, and their respective phase of lactation.
  • Colostrum samples were collected within the initial six hours post-delivery, and regular milk samples were gathered beginning on the seventh day after delivery, at fourteen-day intervals until the lactation period ended.

Sample Analysis

  • These samples were kept refrigerated and dispatched to the Milk Laboratory of the University (Laboleite-UFRN) where they underwent analysis for their chemical makeup.
  • The colostrum composition was evaluated using refractometry, a method that measures the bending of light when it passes through a substance, providing insights into that substance’s composition and purity.
  • The lipid profile was obtained through gas chromatography, a method that allows for the separation and identification of chemical compounds within a sample.

Statistical Analysis

  • Data from the study was put through descriptive statistics, testing for variance using the F-Test, and comparisons between group variables were made using the Tukey statistical test with a significance level of 5%.

Study Findings

  • The research highlighted a higher protein content in the colostrum from Quarter Horse mares when compared to other breeds, with a lower lactose content.
  • The age of the horse didn’t significantly affect the composition of its milk; however, the stage of lactation and birth order did impact its chemical composition.
  • The research also showed that the lipid composition of the milk seems to vary according to the stage of lactation, but that doesn’t change the characteristic profile of the mares’ milk or compromise the nutritional quality of the lipid fraction.

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Cite This Article

APA
Barreto ÍMLG, Urbano SA, Oliveira CAA, Macêdo CS, Borba LHF, Chags BME, Rangel AHN. (2020). Chemical composition and lipid profile of mare colostrum and milk of the quarter horse breed. PLoS One, 15(9), e0238921. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0238921

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 9
Pages: e0238921
PII: e0238921

Researcher Affiliations

Barreto, Ícaro M L G
  • Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
Urbano, Stela A
  • Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
Oliveira, Chiara A A
  • Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
Macêdo, Cláudia S
  • Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
Borba, Luiz H F
  • Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
Chags, Bruna M E
  • Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
Rangel, Adriano H N
  • Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Body Weight
  • Breeding
  • Chromatography, Gas
  • Colostrum / chemistry
  • Female
  • Horses
  • Lipidomics / methods
  • Lipids / analysis
  • Milk / chemistry
  • Nutritive Value
  • Pregnancy
  • Refractometry

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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Citations

This article has been cited 16 times.
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