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Report on a Milking Mule: Milk Qualitative Characteristics during Lactation.
Mina Martini1, Andrea Degl'Innocenti2, Iolanda Altomonte1
1Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|June 19, 2024
Summary
Mule milk composition, including protein, fat, and fatty acids, was analyzed throughout lactation. Milk quality changed significantly, decreasing from early to late lactation, likely adapting to foal growth needs.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Reproductive Biology
- Dairy Science
Background:
- Mules, though infertile, can act as surrogate dams.
- Understanding mule milk composition is crucial for reproductive technologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the qualitative composition of mule milk.
- To investigate changes in mule milk composition during lactation.
Main Methods:
- Milk samples collected from a mule surrogate dam post-embryo transfer.
- Analysis of gross, mineral, and fatty acid composition.
- Evaluation of milk from 6 hours to 180 days in milk (DIM).
Main Results:
- Average mule milk: 1.97% protein, 0.90% fat, 0.39% ash.
- Fatty acid profile: 50% saturated, 31.8% monounsaturated, 18.2% polyunsaturated.
- Significant decrease in dry matter, protein, fat, and ash from early to mid-lactation.
Conclusions:
- Mule milk composition varies significantly throughout lactation.
- Changes suggest adaptation to the foal's nutritional requirements.
- Provides baseline data for mule reproductive and dairy research.
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