Application of Wood’s model to lactation curve of Italian Heavy Draft horse mares

Abstract

The aim of this work was to study, using Wood’s model, the lactation curve in Italian Heavy Draft horse (IHDH) mares, both for milk yield and composition. Interest in mare’s milk has grown for use in human nutrition, as a substitute for human and cow milk for premature newborns and allergic children. For this study, 7 IHDH mares were used. Milk yield was evaluated fromd 15 to 180 postpartum (every 15d). Wood’s lactation model was used to describe milk yield, fat, protein, and lactose lactation curves in the first 180d in milk (DIM), with a prediction to 210 DIM. Mean values recorded across the considered lactation period for milk yield and constituents were 16.11kg of milk/d, 11.38g of fat/kg, 15.54g of protein/kg, and 69.72g of lactose/kg. The lactation curve showed a peak at 69 DIM, with a persistence index of 6.26. Fat (g/kg) and protein (g/kg) lactation curves decreased during the lactation period; instead, the lactose (g/kg) curve increased from the first to the last DIM. The coefficient of determination values indicated a good model fit by Wood’s model application to IHDH mare lactation. The research showed good aptitude of a heavy horse breed, such as IHDH, for milk production.