I. Samples of milk from one-hundred-andforty-two mares have been analysed for
the purpose of determining the percentage of solids, protein, fat, lactose
and ash.II. Of this number, thirty-eight samples were
taken during the period of colostrum
secretion and one hundred and four were
colostrum-free milks.III. The average composition of the milk of
British mares has been found to be in
close agreement with that of Continental
mares. The only marked difference is
in the percentage of ash.IV. The average percentage of ash in the milk
of Continental mares is 0.38 and in the
milk of British mares 0.51. It has
been-found that in the lighter British
breeds (Ponies and Thoroughbreds) the
ash content is similar to that of the
continental mares, whereas in the
heavier breeds (Clydesdales and Shires)
the percentage of ash is appreciably
greater.V. With the exception of the mineral content, there are no marked differences
between the milks of the various
British breeds.VI. Included in the samples examined were
some from mares whose foals were not
thriving; some of these milks were
found to be abnormal.VII. The occurrence of oestrum in the mare
commonly causes nutritional disturbance in the sucking foal.VIII. Milk with a high percentage of fat is
unsuitable for foals, and mares that
secrete milk of this nature do not
rear their foals satisfactorily.IX. On the other hand,. foals appear to thrive
well if the milk contains very little
fat.X. The percentage of lactose in mare's milk
is fairly constant. When divergence
from the normal occurs, a slight excess
does not appear to be harmful. Foals
do not thrive when the milk contains
much less lactose than is normally
present.XI. Aged mares secrete milk that is normal or
with a tendency towards richness.XII. The colostrum of mares has the same
characteristics as the colostrum of
cows.XIII. Two samples of "Witches Milk" (Hexenmilch)
obtained from fillies born with fully
functioning udders were analysed and in
each case the milk was found to have
practically the same composition as
normal milk
