The composition of serval (Felis serval) milk during mid-lactation

Milk was obtained from three captive servals. The average nutrient content was 158.3 ± 44.4 g protein; 152.6 ± 62.3 g fat; and 68.7 ± 31.4 g lactose per kg milk. The protein fraction respectively consisted of 117.7 ± 44.8 g caseins per kg milk and of 40.6 ± 6.7 g whey proteins per kg milk. Electrophoresis and identification of protein bands showed a similar migrating sequence of proteins as seen in cheetah and cat milk, with small differences in the β-caseins. The lipid fraction contains 313.3 ± 18.8 g saturated and 338.6 ± 11.9 g mono unsaturated fatty acids per kg milk fat respectively. The high content of 292.4 ± 24.9 g kg− 1 milk fat of polyunsaturated fatty acids is due to a high content in linolenic acid. No short chain fatty acids, but substantial levels of uneven carbon chain fatty acids were observed. In general, serval milk has a higher protein and fat content than that of the domestic cat and cheetah, and a lower content of unsaturated fatty acids than that of the domestic cat.