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. 2016 Apr 2;7:20. doi: 10.1186/s40104-016-0078-8

Table 1.

Composition of mature milk of domesticated and wild mammals

Species Fat Casein Whey protein Total protein NPN subs Lactose Total Carb Ca Ash DMa References
Antelopeb 72 48 14 62 18 42 47 2.6 13 212 [47, 48, 60]
Baboon 46 4.7 7.3 12 3.0 60 77 0.44 3.0 141 [5, 6, 20–24]
Bat 133 x x 80 5.0 34 40 x 6.8 265 [26, 27, 29]
Bear (black) 220 88 57 145 7.5 3.0 27 3.6 19 419 [11, 24, 43, 58]
Bear (grizzly) 185 68 67 135 7.0 4.0 32 3.4 13 372 [11, 24, 48, 57]
Bear (polar) 331 71 38 109 5.6 4.0 30 3.0 12 488 [18, 21–24, 42]
Beaver 182 85 23 108 6.3 17 22 2.4 20 338 [3, 21, 40, 62]
Bison 35 37 8.0 45 3.0 51 57 1.2 9.6 150 [12, 35, 40]
Buffalo 77 38 7.0 45 5.2 40 47 1.9 8.0 192 [12, 35, 40, 48]
Blue whale 423 73 36 109 6.6 10 13 3.4 16 568 [16, 24, 42, 44]
Camel 45 29 10 39 5.6 49 56 1.4 7.0 153 [3, 12, 22, 40]
Cat (domestic) 108 31 60 91 10 42 49 1.8 6.2 264 [3, 21, 48]
Chimpanzee 37 4.8 7.2 12 2.0 70 82 0.36 11 144 [12, 22, 58, 60]
Cow (domestic)c 37 28 6.0 34 2.2 49 56 1.2 7.1 136 [19–24, 48, 58]
Coyote 107 x x 99 x 30 32 x 9.0 247 [3, 22, 48]
Deer 197 94 10 104 14 26 30 2.6 14 359 [3, 12, 40, 48]
Dog (domestic) 95 51 23 74 23 33 38 2.0 12 242 [3, 20–24, 40]
Dolphin 330 39 29 68 3.0 10 11 1.5 7.5 420 [12, 40, 44, 49]
Donkey (Ass) 14 11 9.0 20 3.2 61 68 0.91 4.5 110 [3, 12, 20–24]
Elephant 116 19 30 49 4.1 51 60 0.80 7.6 237 [12, 20–24, 45]
Ferret 80 32 28 58 6.7 38 44 x 8.0 197 [6, 12, 21, 40]
Fin whale 286 82 38 120 6.2 2.0 26 3.0 16 454 [24, 31, 44]
Fox 63 x x 63 4.0 47 50 3.4 10 190 [1, 2, 40, 48]
Giant panda 104 50 21 71 10 12 15 1.3 9.4 209 [38, 58]
Giraffe 125 48 8.0 56 2.2 34 40 1.5 8.7 232 [2, 12, 20, 40]
Goat (domestic) 45 29 5.0 34 5.8 43 47 1.4 7.9 139 [2, 24, 48, 52]
Goat (mountain) 57 24 7.0 31 5.3 28 32 1.3 12 136 [3, 12, 33, 40]
Gorilla 19 13 9.0 22 1.9 62 73 3.2 6.0 122 [12, 46, 61]
Guinea pig 39 66 15 81 12 30 36 1.6 8.2 176 [12, 36, 39, 40]
Hamster 126 58 32 90 11 32 38 2.1 14 279 [3, 12, 24, 60]
Horse (domestic) 19 14 8.3 22 3.6 62 69 0.95 5.1 119 [20–24, 48, 60]
Humand 42 4.4 6.6 11 2.8 70 80 0.32 2.2 138 [3, 12, 48, 60]
Kangaroo 21 23 23 46 4 <0.01 47 1.6 12 130 [3, 6, 40, 48]
Lion 189 57 36 93 6.6 27 34 0.82 14 337 [3, 9, 12, 40]
Llama 42 62 11 73 9.6 60 66 1.7 7.5 198 [12, 35, 37, 40]
Mink 80 x x 74 12 69 76 1.3 10 252 [12, 29, 48, 59]
Moose 105 x x 135 18 33 38 3.6 16 312 [8, 13, 23, 48]
Mouse (Lab) 121 70 20 90 11 30 36 2.5 15 273 [3, 12, 25, 48]
Mulee 18 x x 20 3.0 55 62 0.76 4.8 108 [12, 20–24, 48]
Musk ox 110 35 18 53 7.0 27 33 3.0 18 221 [40, 48, 55]
Opossum 61 48 44 92 4.6 16 20 4.2 16 194 [15, 17, 30]
Peccary 36 40 15 55 5.7 66 71 1.2 6.4 174 [3, 48, 53, 60]
Pig (domestic) 80 28 20 48 5.4 52 58 3.1 9.2 201 [20–24, 48, 60]
Pronghorn 130 x x 69 7.2 40 43 2.5 13 262 [3, 12, 48]
Rabbit 183 104 32 136 11 18 21 6.3 20 371 [3, 12, 40, 48]
Rat (Lab) 126 64 20 84 6.3 30 38 3.2 15 269 [3, 12, 48, 58]
Reindeer 203 86 15 101 14 28 35 3.1 14 367 [12, 20–24, 48]
Rhesus monkey 40 11 5.0 16 1.6 70 82 0.40 26 166 [14, 34, 48]
Rhinoceros 4.0 11 3.0 14 2.3 66 72 0.56 3.7 96 [20–24, 35, 48]
Sea lion 349 x x 136 4.1 0.0 6.0 0.76 6.4 502 [44, 48, 50, 56]
Seal (fur) 251 46 43 89 6.9 1.0 24 0.70 5.0 376 [10, 42, 44, 56]
Seal (gray) 532 50 52 102 10 1.0 26 2.0 7.0 677 [42, 44, 48]
Seal (harp) 502 38 21 59 2.4 8.9 23 1.2 3.9 590 [7, 12, 40, 54]
Seal (hooded) 404 x x 67 5.0 0.0 10 1.2 8.6 496 [12, 42, 44, 48]
Sheep (domestic) 74 46 10 56 2.7 48 55 1.9 9.2 195 [20–24, 40, 48]
Sperm whalef 153 32 50 82 6.3 20 22 1.5 8.0 270 [19, 44, 48]
Squirrel (gray) 121 50 24 74 16 30 34 3.6 12 257 [3, 12, 41]
Tree shrew 170 x x 85 19 15 20 x 8.0 302 [3, 40, 60]
Water buffalo 74 32 6.0 38 5.8 48 55 1.9 7.8 181 [4, 6, 12, 35]
Water shrew 200 x x 100 x 1.0 30 x 20 350 [3, 12, 20–24]
White whale 220 82 38 120 3.7 2.0 18 3.6 16 378 [12, 44, 48]
Wolf 96 x x 92 4.8 32 35 4.0 25 253 [3, 12, 32, 60]
Yak 68 36 7.0 43 2.5 50 54 1.3 8.0 176 [6, 12, 35, 48]
Zebra 21 12 11 23 2.6 74 82 0.8 3.5 132 [35, 40, 48, 51]

Values are g/kg whole milk. Nonprotein nitrogen = total nitrogen – protein nitrogen. Nitrogen content in milk protein is 15.67 % [19–24]. The amount of non-protein nitrogenous substances (g/kg whole milk) is calculated as the amount of nonprotein nitrogen (g/kg whole milk) x 6.25. Caseins include α S1-casein, αS2-casein, β-casein, γ-casein, and k-casein. Whey proteins include α-lactoalbumin, β-lactoglobulin, serum albumin, immunoglobulins, lactoferrins, lysozymes, amino acid oxidases, xanthine oxidase, and other enzymes

AA amino acids, Ca calcium, Carb carbohydrates, DM dry matter, NPN subs non-protein nitrogenous substances (including free amino acids, small peptides, urea, ammonia, uric acid, creatine, creatinine, and other low-molecular weight nitrogenous substances). The symbol “x” denotes the lack of data in the literature

aIncluding fat, protein, NPN, lactose plus other carbohydrates, and minerals (total ash). When data on total carbohydrates have not been reported, ratios of lactose to other carbohydrates in milk are estimated to be 15:1 (g/g) [14, 38, 57, 58]

bGemsbok antelope

cConcentrations of urea, creatinine, and amino sugars are 317, 127, and 392 mg/L whole mike, respectively

dConcentrations of urea, creatinine, and amino sugars are 274, 209, and 1111 mg/L whole mike, respectively

eMule is a domesticated, hybrid animal produced by crossing a female horse with a male donkey

fPygmy sperm whale