Milk fatty acids from different horse breeds compared with cow, goat and human milk

The essential role of fatty acids (FA) in human nutrition was widely documented. Since unsaturated fatty acids amount in mare milk seems to be higher than in cow milk, an approach was considered to evaluate differences between some equine breeds and compare fatty acids composition in different species. Trial was carried out on 30 Haflinger, 6 Noriker and 12 Thoroughbred milk samples collected at 30, 60 and 90 days from delivery. FA profile was investigated referring to linoleic (LA), α-linolenic acid (ALA), LA/ALA ratio and saturated/unsaturated ratio. LA was higher in Thoroughbred milk at 30, 60 and 90 days, ALA in Noriker mares versus Thoroughbred and Haflinger, underlining an interesting genetic characteristic. LA/ALA ratio was 0.51, 0.49, 0.39 in Noriker at 30, 60, 90 days with a sat/unsat ratio about 1. In Thoroughbred sat/unsat ratio was 0.87, 0.71, 0.57; in Haflinger 1.24, 1.09, 1.28. Investigations concerned also milk FA from Haflinger, Noriker and Thoroughbred mares collected at 60 from delivery compared with cow, goat and human milk. Unsaturated FA were found about 55% in mare samples, higher than cow and goat (30–33%) and similar to human. Sat/unsat ratio was lower than 1 in mare milk, about 2 in cow and 2.3 in goat. All mare samples were rich in LA (6.22–15.41%) and ALA (7.09–12.50%). In human milk LA and ALA were 13.54% and 1.02%; lower in goat (2.62% and 0.63%) and in cow (1.86% and 0.57%). Sat/unsat ratio was between 0.70 and 1.09 in horses, 2.30 in goat, 1.88 in cow and 0.83 in human milk.