Lactation in the horse: milk composition and intake by foals.
Abstract: Milk samples averaging 500 ml were collected weekly from 10 to 54 days postpartum from five lactating mares. Samples were obtained by hand milking after oxytocin administration and while the foal nursed. Dry matter, protein and gross energy were higher in samples obtained at 10 and 17 days postpartum than those obtained during the midlactation period of 24-54 days. Midlactation samples averaged 10.5% dry matter, 1.29% fat, 1.93% protein, 6.91% sugar and 50.6 kcal/100 g. Protein comprised 22% of milk energy. Milk intake was estimated in five foals from deuterium oxide (D2O) turnover to be 16, 15 and 18 kg/day at 11, 25 and 39 days postpartum. Milk intake differed significantly among foals and at the various postpartum ages, whether intake was expressed as a daily amount, as a percent of foal body weight, per kilogram0.75 or per gram of foal body weight gain. Milk production was equivalent to 3.1% of the mare's body weight at 11 days postpartum, 2.9% at 25 days and 3.4% at 39 days. On the basis of metabolic body size milk output by the mare was 149 g/kg0.75, 139 g/kg0.75 and 163 g/kg0.75 at 11, 25 and 39 days postpartum, respectively. Nutrient intakes by foals were calculated from milk composition and intake data. At 11, 25 and 39 days postpartum, respectively, dry matter intake equaled 3.1, 2.1 and 2.0% of foal body weight, and daily gross energy intake was 9380, 7590 and 8910 kcal. For each gram of body weight gain, foals ingested 0.37 g protein and 8.3 kcal at 11 days, 0.26 g protein and 6.7 kcal at 25 days, and 0.30 g protein and 7.8 kcal at 39 days of age.
Publication Date: 1983-10-01 PubMed ID: 6619986DOI: 10.1093/jn/113.10.2096Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
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 investigates the composition of horse milk and the intake rate of foals. It finds that protein and energy are higher in early postpartum samples and that milk intake, which varies considerably among foals and postpartum stages, has a significant impact on their growth.
Study Methodology
- The research was carried out with milk samples obtained from five lactating mares 10 to 54 days after they had given birth, averaging 500 ml per sample.
- Milk was manually milked from the mares after administering oxytocin and while the foal was nursing.
- The intake of milk by foals was estimated using deuterium oxide (D2O), a method of turnover at different postpartum ages: 11, 25, and 39 days.
Data Analysis
- The researchers discovered that the composition of dry matter, protein, and gross energy in the milk samples was higher at 10 and 17 days postpartum compared to the mid-lactation period of 24-54 days.
- The average mid-lactation samples had a composition of 10.5% dry matter, 1.29% fat, 1.93% protein, 6.91% sugar, and 50.6 kcal/100 g, with protein making up 22% of milk energy.
Milk Intake and Production
- Milk intake varied considerably among foals and at different postpartum ages, with daily estimates at 16 kg, 15 kg, and 18 kg for days 11, 25, and 39 respectively.
- Milk production was found to be equivalent to 3.1% of the mare’s body weight at 11 days postpartum, 2.9% at 25 days, and 3.4% at 39 days, which translates to 149 g/kg0.75, 139 g/kg0.75, and 163 g/kg0.75 respectively.
Nutrient Intake
- The nutrient intake by foals was calculated using milk composition and intake data. At 11, 25, and 39 days postpartum, dry matter intake had values of 3.1%, 2.1%, and 2.0% of the foal’s body weight respectively, equating to daily gross energy intakes of 9380, 7590, and 8910 kcal.
- The study also estimates that for every gram of body weight gain, foals ingested 0.37 g protein and 8.3 kcal at 11 days, 0.26 g protein and 6.7 kcal at 25 days, and 0.30 g protein and 7.8 kcal at 39 days of age.
Cite This Article
APA
Oftedal OT, Hintz HF, Schryver HF.
(1983).
Lactation in the horse: milk composition and intake by foals.
J Nutr, 113(10), 2096-2106.
https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/113.10.2096 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
- Animals
- Carbohydrates / analysis
- Eating
- Female
- Horses / physiology
- Lactation
- Lipids / analysis
- Milk / analysis
- Milk Proteins / analysis
- Nutritional Requirements
- Pregnancy
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- Barłowska J, Polak G, Janczarek I, Tkaczyk E. The Influence of Selected Factors on the Nutritional Value of the Milk of Cold-Blooded Mares: The Example of the Sokólski Breed. Animals (Basel) 2023 Mar 24;13(7).
- Font-Porterias N, McNelis MG, Comas D, Hlusko LJ. Evidence of Selection in the Ectodysplasin Pathway among Endangered Aquatic Mammals. Integr Org Biol 2022;4(1):obac018.
- Arfuso F, Giannetto C, Bazzano M, Assenza A, Piccione G. Physiological Correlation between Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis, Leptin, UCP1 and Lipid Panel in Mares during Late Pregnancy and Early Postpartum Period. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jul 9;11(7).
- Waili Y, Gahafu Y, Aobulitalifu A, Chang Z, Xie X, Kawuli G. Isolation, purification, and characterization of antioxidant peptides from fresh mare's milk. Food Sci Nutr 2021 Jul;9(7):4018-4027.
- Henry S, Sigurjónsdóttir H, Klapper A, Joubert J, Montier G, Hausberger M. Domestic Foal Weaning: Need for Re-Thinking Breeding Practices?. Animals (Basel) 2020 Feb 23;10(2).
- Riek A, Stölzl A, Marquina Bernedo R, Ruf T, Arnold W, Hambly C, Speakman JR, Gerken M. Energy expenditure and body temperature variations in llamas living in the High Andes of Peru. Sci Rep 2019 Mar 11;9(1):4037.
- Riek A, Brinkmann L, Gauly M, Perica J, Ruf T, Arnold W, Hambly C, Speakman JR, Gerken M. Seasonal changes in energy expenditure, body temperature and activity patterns in llamas (Lama glama). Sci Rep 2017 Aug 8;7(1):7600.
- Kunz TH, Oftedal OT, Robson SK, Kretzmann MB, Kirk C. Changes in milk composition during lactation in three species of insectivorous bats. J Comp Physiol B 1995;164(7):543-51.
- Welsch U, Buchheim W, Schumacher U, Schinko I, Patton S. Structural, histochemical and biochemical observations on horse milk-fat-globule membranes and casein micelles. Histochemistry 1988;88(3-6):357-65.
- Penazzi L, Pagliara E, Nervo T, Ala U, Bertuglia A, Romano G, Hattab J, Tiscar PG, Bergagna S, Pagliasso G, Antoniazzi S, Cavallarin L, Valle E, Prola L. Dietary supplementation of new-born foals with free nucleotides positively affects neonatal diarrhoea management. Ir Vet J 2025 Mar 1;78(1):7.
- Mohl BP, Blaurock C, Riek A, Hambly C, Speakman JR, Balkema-Buschmann A. Evidence for SARS-CoV-2 infected Golden Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) reducing daily energy expenditure and body core temperature. Sci Rep 2024 Oct 6;14(1):23263.
- Mienaltowski MJ, Callahan M, De La Torre U, Maga EA. Comparing microbiotas of foals and their mares' milk in the first two weeks after birth. BMC Vet Res 2024 Jan 8;20(1):17.
- Rödel HG, Ibler B, Ozogány K, Kerekes V. Age-specific effects of density and weather on body condition and birth rates in a large herbivore, the Przewalski's horse. Oecologia 2023 Dec;203(3-4):435-451.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
