The composition of cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) milk.
Milk was obtained from two captive bred cheetahs. The nutrient content was 99.6 g protein; 64.8 g fat; and 40.21 g lactose per kg milk. Small amounts of oligosaccharides, glucose, galactose and fucose were noted. The protein fraction respectively consisted of 34.2 g caseins per kg milk and of 65.3 g whey proteins per kg milk. Very little variation in milk composition among the individual cheetahs was noted. Electrophoresis and identification of protein bands showed a similar migrating sequence of proteins as seen in lion's and cat's milk, with small differences in the beta-caseins. The lipid fraction contains 290.4 g saturated and 337.3 g mono-unsaturated fatty acids per kg milk fat respectively. The high content of 279.5 g kg(-1) milk fat of polyunsaturated fatty acids is due to a high content in alpha-linolenic acid. No short chain fatty acids, but substantial levels of uneven carbon chain fatty acids were observed.
Osthoff
G
G
Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa. OsthoffG.sci@mail.uovs.ac.za
Hugo
A
A
de Wit
M
M
D002612:Acinonyx / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology; D007785:Lactose / Q000032:analysis; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry*; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D011247:Pregnancy
D005227:Fatty Acids; D008894:Milk Proteins; D007785:Lactose