Nutritional composition, fatty acids profile and immunoglobulin G concentrations of mare milk of the Chilean Corralero horse breed.

This research aimed at exploring the nutritional composition, fatty acid profile, and immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration in the milk of Chilean Corralero Horse mares farmed in southern Chile. It found that the milk composition changed based on factors such as the duration of milking, the mare’s offspring’s sex, and farm-specific practices. Compared to cow and human milk, horse milk has lower fat and protein but is richer in lactose. Of particular interest is the potential health implications, given that horse milk poses a lower cardiac risk than cow’s milk due to its lower atherogenic and thrombogenic indices.

Details of the Study

• The study involved the collection of 45 milk samples from three leading Chilean Corralero Horse breeding farms. Each farm contributed samples from 15 mares. The farms varied in the number of days in milk (DIM).
• A negative correlation was observed between DIM and various milk components such as ash, milk protein, milk solids, saturated fatty acids (SFA), and gross energy (GE). In contrast, an increase in DIM correlated with a rise in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA).
• Milk components like fat, lactose, and energy varied independently of DIM, suggesting other influential factors, possibly farm-specific practices. The sex of the offspring was found to affect the GE content moderately, with mares bearing female offspring producing milk with higher GE.

The Nutritional Profile of Chilean Corralero Horse’s Milk

• The macronutrient profiles of the Chilean Corralero horse’s milk were found to be within the range reported for other horse breeds. However, the milk tends to contain lower fat and total solids.
• Compared to cow and human milk, horse milk has a higher lactose content but is lower in fat and protein. It is likely to pose a lower cardiac risk than cow’s milk due to lower atherogenic and thrombogenic indices, which are predictors of the likelihood of plaque formation in the arteries and blood clot formation, respectively.

Impact of Factors on Immunoglobulin G concentration

• The study found that a farm’s specific factors could affect the concentration of Immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the mares’ milk. A particular farm (B) had higher IgG concentration than the others. This variation could have been due to dietary influences and pasture composition rather than maternal parity or other known factors.
• IgG is a type of antibody that plays a crucial role in fighting against infectious diseases. Therefore, variations in their concentration in milk might be linked to the health status of the mare and its young one. Besides, higher IgG concentrations in the milk may provide potential health benefits if consumed by humans.