Nutritional Quality of Mare’s Colostrum and Milk: Potential Impact on Blood Glucose Values in Fresh and Cold-stored Status in Mice

Background: Mare’s milk has been indicated to improve blood glucose value, liver and kidney functions. Methods: Thirty male albino mice were distributed over three groups; control, mare’s colostrum (fresh and cold-stored) and mare’s milk (fresh and cold-stored). Chemical composition and immunoglobulin content of mare’s milk and colostrum were determined through milkoscan and Brix refractometer, respectively. Body weights (BW), rectal temperature, pulse rate and peripheral oxygen saturation (SPO2), blood glucose values were recorded. Result: The results showed that mare’s colostrum had higher (P less than 0.0001) SNF, protein and lactose but comparable fat contents compared to mare’s milk. Consumption of ad libitum fresh mare’s colostrum resulted in significant decrease in blood glucose values compared to fresh mare’s milk. On the other hand, consumption of cold-stored mare colostrum and milk resulted in significant increase in blood glucose values compared to fresh state of colostrum, milk and control one. Milk group had higher body temperature compared to colostrum and control groups. Pulse rate and SPO2 values did not differ among groups. It could be concluded that fresh state of mare’s colostrum gave hypoglycemic effect whereas cold-stored of mare’s colostrum and milk resulted in hyperglycemic effects.