Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2440418 | Journal of Dairy Science | 2008 | 7 Pages |
Abstract
Milk yield and composition data from 7 nursing Lusitano mares (450 to 580Â kg of body weight and 2 to 9 parities) were used in this study (5 measurements per mare for milk yield and 8 measurements for composition). Wood's lactation model was used to describe milk fat, protein, and lactose lactation curves. Mean values for the concentration of major milk components across the lactation period (180 d) were 5.9Â g/kg of fat, 18.4Â g/kg of protein, and 60.8Â g/kg of lactose. Milk fat and protein (g/kg) decreased and lactose (g/kg) increased during the 180 d of lactation. Curves for milk protein and lactose yields (g) were similar in shape to the milk yield curve; protein yield peaked at 307Â g on d 10 and lactose peaked at 816Â g on d 45. The fat (g) curve was different in shape compared with milk, protein, and lactose yields. Total production of the major milk constituents throughout the 180 d of lactation was estimated to be 12.0, 36.1, and 124Â kg for fat, protein, and lactose, respectively. The algebraic model fitted by a nonlinear regression procedure to the data resulted in reasonable prediction curves for milk yield (Ra2 of 0.89) and the major constituents (Ra2 ranged from 0.89 to 0.95). The lactation curves of major milk constituents in Lusitano mares were similar, both in shape and values, to those found in other horse breeds. The established curves facilitate the estimation of milk yield and variation of milk constituents at different stages of lactation for both nursing and dairy mares, providing important information relative to weaning time and foal supplementation.
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Authors
A.S. Santos, A.M. Silvestre,