The Vitamin Content of Mare's Milk

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Summary Forty samples of milk were obtained from three Percheron mares during the normal lactation and from a saddle pony during very rapid cessation of lactation. The milk was very white with a bluish tinge, foamed excessively and had a sweetish taste. The average values for mare's milk during normal lactation were as follows: ascorbic acid, 12.9 mg,; nicotinic acid, 0.72 mg.; pantothenic acid (three samples), 2.77 mg.; riboflavin, 0.11 mg.; thiamine, 0.39 mg. per liter; fat, 1.2 per cent; fat globule size, 3.4 ¼ total solids, 10.20 per cent. Of these values ascorbic and nicotinic acid, riboflavin, fat, and total solids were lower than the corresponding values for cow's milk, but the thiamine values were higher. The milk obtained from the saddle pony during the period of rapid cessation of lactation contained more ascorbic acid, riboflavin, fat, and total solids, and had larger fat globules than was found for the other three mares experiencing normal lactation; the amount of thiamine was much less. The greatest difference in vitamin content between mare's and cow's milk was in riboflavin; the former having only about one-tenth of the latter.