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Characterization of milk composition in narrow‐ridged finless porpoises ( Neophocaena asiaeorientalis ) at different lactation stages
Author(s) -
Zeng Xianyuan,
Huang Shianglin,
Qian Zhengyi,
Hao Yujiang,
Wang Ding,
Ji Junhua,
Nabi Ghulam
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
marine mammal science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.723
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1748-7692
pISSN - 0824-0469
DOI - 10.1111/mms.12398
Subject(s) - lactation , biology , composition (language) , zoology , sugar , milk fat , food science , pregnancy , philosophy , linguistics , genetics , linseed oil
Lactation plays a vital role in reproductive success, evolving with ecological adaptations of mammalian life histories. Knowledge of the lactation process in odontocetes is scarce and limited to a handful of species. We investigated the changes in milk composition across different lactation stages, including prepartum mammary secretion and early, mid‐ and late lactation of narrow‐ridged finless porpoises. Prepartum mammary secretion was greenish and characterized by high protein, low sugar, and negligible fat contents. In contrast, milk fat became predominant over protein and sugar contents throughout all lactation stages. At the early lactation stage, the contents of all milk constituents except water varied greatly. At the mid‐late lactation stage, the gross milk composition was relatively stable and was composed of, on average, 67.34% ± 4.13% water, 9.96% ± 0.75% protein, 21.40% ± 3.24% fat, and 1.72% ± 0.73% sugar. Our findings provide new insight into milk composition at different lactation stages in the narrow‐ridged finless porpoise.