Distribution of Ca, P and Mg and casein micelle mineralisation in donkey milk from the second to ninth month of lactation

Ca, P and Mg content and distribution between soluble and colloidal phases of donkey milk (DM) were investigated in 62 individual milk samples collected from 9 Ragusano donkeys followed from the second to the ninth month of lactation. Ca (69%) and P (64%) were mainly associated with casein, while Mg was largely found in the soluble form (69%). Only 25% of the colloidal P was present as phosphorylated residues of caseins (casein-P). The colloidal contents of Ca, casein-P, inorganic P (as a constituent of the colloidal calcium phosphate; CCP) and Mg were 1.84, 1.30, 0.45 and 0.15 mmol g casein−1, respectively, revealing a high level of mineralisation of DM casein micelle. The colloidal Ca to colloidal inorganic-P ratio was 1.51, suggesting that most colloidal Ca was in the form of CCP. All parameters were affected by the period of lactation, except casein level in milk and its level of phosphorylation.