title: Analysis of the breast milk of giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) and the preparation of substitutes.
abstract: The first milk substitute for giant panda cubs was developed in 1988 based on limited data about giant panda breast milk and that of certain types of bear. Mixtures of other formulas have also been fed to cubs at some facilities. However, they are not of sufficient nutritional quality for promoting growth in panda cubs. Here, we report analysis of giant panda breast milk and propose new milk substitutes for cubs, which were developed based on the results of our analysis. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding obtained breast milk samples from three giant pandas. Up to 30 ml of breast milk were collected from each mother by hand. Then, the milk samples were frozen and sent to Nihon University. The levels of protein, fat, carbohydrates, ash, moisture, vitamins, minerals, total amino acids, fatty acids, lactose and other carbohydrates in the milk were analyzed. The breast milk samples exhibited the following nutritional values: protein: 6.6-8.5%, fat: 6.9-16.4%, carbohydrates: 2.5-9.1%, ash: 0.9-1.0% and moisture: 67-83%. We designed two kinds of milk substitutes based on the data obtained and the nutritional requirements of dogs, cats and rodents. The nutritional composition of the milk substitutes for the first and second stages was as follows: protein: 38 and 26%, fat: 40 and 40%, carbohydrates: 13 and 25%, ash: 6 and 6% and moisture: 3 and 3%, respectively. In addition, the substitutes contained vitamins, minerals, taurine, docosahexaenoic acid, lactoferrin, nucleotides and other nutrients.
authors.affiliation: Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Chengdu, Sichuan, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Zhihe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Jingchao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Hairui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kurokawa
authors.forename: Zenta
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Takatsu
authors.forename: Toyokazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koie
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kamata
authors.forename: Kiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kanayama
authors.forename: Toshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D007785:Lactose / Q000032:analysis; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry*; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D041941:Milk Substitutes; D001503:Ursidae; D014815:Vitamins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D002241:Carbohydrates; D005227:Fatty Acids; D008894:Milk Proteins; D014815:Vitamins; D007785:Lactose