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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Domestic Quarter Horse (Equus caballus) Milk Macronutrient C...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2025; 15(6); 882; doi: 10.3390/ani15060882

Domestic Quarter Horse (Equus caballus) Milk Macronutrient Composition Analyses Within Micro Quantities from Two Different Geographical Locations.

Abstract: Microquantity laboratory procedures (<5 mL) are often used to analyze milk from non-bovid or less common species due to limited available samples and small sample sizes, unlike the large quantities of milk needed for macroquantity (~20 mL) assays standard in the commercial dairy industry. To better understand microquantity milk laboratory analyses, quarter horse () milk from North Carolina State University (females = 4, n = 43) and California Polytechnic State University (females = 4, n = 42) equine centers was compared to investigate differences in macronutrient composition from 4 to 130 days after parturition. All mares were healthy, but consumed different diets. Major milk macronutrients were measured at the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute using a microquantity analysis of ash, crude protein (CP), dry matter (DM), crude fat, sugar, and gross energy. Of the six measured nutrients, only CP and crude fat differed ( < 0.05) by location, while sugar and crude fat had differences among individual mares. Californian mares had greater fat concentration means on a dry matter basis (DMB) than the North Carolinian mares (ANCOVA, = 0.003). North Carolinian mares had greater CP concentration means than Californian mares. These findings indicate that dietary differences and/or environmental factors may play a role in CP and crude fat milk macronutrient composition within horse breeds. However, despite the differences noted, the microquantity analyses for nutritional means for all eight mares were within macroquantity horses ranges available in the previous literature. The results indicate that micro versus macroassays are comparable and supports clinical and scientific research on milk from species where large sample quantities are difficult to obtain.
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Publication Date: 2025-03-19 PubMed ID: 40150411PubMed Central: PMC11939680DOI: 10.3390/ani15060882Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

This research studied the macronutrient composition of milk in Quarter horses from North Carolina and California. The aim was to understand how geographical location and diet might affect the nutrients in the milk, using small laboratory sample sizes.

Objective and Methodology of the Research

  • The objective of the research was to compare the macronutrient composition of Quarter horse milk from two different geographical locations: North Carolina State University and California Polytechnic State University.
  • Using a small sample size (less than 5 mL), scientists measured key nutrients in the milk to understand if geographical or dietary differences have an impact on the composition of horse milk.
  • Specific nutrients such as ash, crude protein, dry matter, crude fat, sugar, and gross energy were measured for their comparative analysis.

Findings of the Study

  • The geographical location appeared to influence only two among the six measured nutrients – crude protein and crude fat.
  • The Californian mares had a higher mean fat concentration, compared on a dry matter basis, than the North Carolinian mares.
  • The North Carolinian mares, on the other hand, presented a higher mean concentration of crude protein than the Californian mares.
  • Sugar and crude fat concentrations displayed differences among the individual mares, indicating that individual dietary differences could play a role.

Implications of the Research

  • The results suggest that the geographical location and differing diets may influence the milk’s macronutrient composition within horse breeds.
  • Despite this, it was found that the microquantity analyses for the nutritional means were within the ranges available in previous literature, suggesting that using smaller samples does not significantly alter the results.
  • This discovery further implies that micro vs macro assays are comparable and can be used in future scientific research, particularly when large sample quantities are difficult to obtain.

Cite This Article

APA
Wagner JCP, Edwards M, Trivedi S, Minter LJ, Ange-van Heugten K. (2025). Domestic Quarter Horse (Equus caballus) Milk Macronutrient Composition Analyses Within Micro Quantities from Two Different Geographical Locations. Animals (Basel), 15(6), 882. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15060882

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 6
PII: 882

Researcher Affiliations

Wagner, Jenna C P
  • Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, 120 W Broughton Dr, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA.
Edwards, Mark
  • Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Food and Enviromental Science, California Polytechnic State University, 1 Grand Ave, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA.
Trivedi, Shweta
  • Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, 120 W Broughton Dr, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA.
Minter, Larry J
  • Animal Health Section, North Carolina Zoo, 4401 Zoo Parkway, Asheboro, NC 27205, USA.
Ange-van Heugten, Kimberly
  • Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, 120 W Broughton Dr, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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