Ekoizpen-sistema erdi-estentsibopean hazitako Euskal Herriko mendiko zaldia arrazako behor-esnearen kalitate nutrizionalaren azterketa: Assessment of the nutritional quality of mare milk from Basque Mountain Horse breed managed under semi-extensive system

Abstract

Many farms that breed equids for human consumption are located in southern Basque Country, and are primarily based on extensive management systems. Considering the beneficial impact of extensive systems on rural areas and the environment, diversification of equine production with mare milk from the autochthonous Basque Mountain Horse breed, a product never studied before, is proposed. This study assessed the nutritional quality of milk through the quantification of gross composition (total fat, protein, lactose and non-fat dry matter) using near infrared spectroscopy (NIR). Mare milk from Basque Mountain Horse breed was particularly poor in fat, whereas protein and lactose contents were in agreement to those found in milk from other horse breeds. Significant differences were found in non-fat dry matter content among farms, being the milk coming from the farm where mares fed the least amount of pasture the richest in this compound. On another hand, lactation stage significantly influenced the content of fat, protein, lactose and non-fat dry matter. Fat and protein contents decreased along lactation and lactose content increased, while non-fat dry matter content fluctuated with no specific pattern. Compared to milk from other animal species, mare milk is poor in fat and protein but rich in lactose, similarly to human milk. This study shows that mares from Basque Mountain Horse breed can provide a high quality milk. Therefore, diversification of the current equine production with mare milk could improve the sustainability of both this autochthonous breed and extensive farms in the Basque Country.