Composition of milk from minor dairy animals and buffalo breeds: a biodiversity perspective.

The research article discusses the differences in nutrient composition of milk from several minor dairy animals and buffalo breeds. The study reveals that there are significant variations in fat, protein, lactose, and water concentrations across species, which may have implications for nutrition and biodiversity conservation.

Nutrient Composition of Different Animal Milks

• The research establishes the nutrient composition for milk from various animals such as buffalos, mares, dromedary camels, yaks, mithuns, musk oxen, donkeys, Bactrian camels, llamas, alpacas, reindeer, and moose. The study finds visible differences in the nutrient composition across these species.
• The concentrations of total fat ranged between 0.7 to 16.1 grams per 100 grams, protein content ranged between 1.6 to 10.5 grams per 100 grams, lactose content was between 2.6 to 6.6 grams per 100 grams, and the water content varied from 67.9 to 90.8 grams per 100 grams.

Unique Characteristics of Different Animal Milks

• Reindeer and moose milks had the highest fat and protein concentrations and the lowest lactose contents. This indicates that reindeer and moose milk can be a rich source of protein and fat.”
• Mare and donkey milks showed the lowest protein and fat contents, but had the most suitable fatty acid profile for human nutrition. This signifies that mare and donkey milk can be beneficial substitutes for those needing low protein and fat diets.
• Dromedary camel milk was most like cow milk in its proximate composition, suggesting it might be a suitable replacement for cow milk.
• Moose milk was found to have a high mineral content, with as much as 358 mg per 100 g of calcium, 158 mg per 100 g for sodium, and 150 mg per 100 g for phosphorus.

Interbreed Differences in Milk Composition

• The study found that there were significant differences in the total fat content in milk from different breeds of buffalo, yak, mare, and dromedary camels, with a variance up to 4 grams per 100 grams.
• Big differences were also noticed in the mineral contents in the milk of various breeds of mare, buffalo, and dromedary camels.

Implications for Biodiversity and Nutrition Security

• The research highlights the need to widen our understanding of biodiversity by including these lesser-known dairy species. The conservation and sustainable use of milk from these underutilited dairy breeds and species could contribute to improved food and nutrition security, especially in developing countries.