Milk productivity of maresAbstract
To determine the milk productivity of Kazakh horses of the Adai region in variants of selection and technological indicators of milk for the production of cumus in the conditions of the Mangyshlak peninsula of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The object of the study was the Kazakh horse of the Adai intra-breed type at “Taushyk” LLP (Tupkaragan District, Mangystau Region). Mares with a more pronounced milk production were selected and analyzed . they have investigated the quality of milk for further processing. A characteristic feature of the dynamics of milk sugar content during lactation has been identified. The highest lactose concentration was observed in the 4th month of lactation, followed by a decline. In the first two months of lactation, no significant changes in lactose content were detected. The milk produced by mares of the Kazakh Aday breed is characterized by a high content of fat and lactose and therefore meets the technological requirements for koumiss production. According to the research results, it was found that the homogeneous selection of parental pairs cup-shaped + cup-shaped ensures the yield of offspring of daughters cup-shaped 70% and rounded 30%. With the improving heterogeneous selection of rounded + cup-shaped, the yield of mares with cup-shaped udders was 60% and rounded 40%.
Keywords:
dairy horse breeding; herd horse breeding; Adai horse
Resumo
O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a produtividade leiteira de éguas da raça Adai, pertencentes ao grupo étnico do Cazaquistão, em diferentes variantes de seleção e indicadores tecnológicos para a produção de cumus, nas condições da península de Mangyshlak, na República do Cazaquistão. O objeto de estudo foi a égua Adai, que faz parte do grupo étnico do Cazaquistão, pertencente à empresa “Taushyk” LLP (Distrito de Tupkaragan, Região de Mangystau). Éguas com maior produção leiteira foram selecionadas e analisadas, e a qualidade do leite foi investigada para posterior processamento. Uma característica da dinâmica do teor de açúcar no leite durante a lactação foi identificada. A maior concentração de lactose foi observada no 4º mês de lactação, seguida por um declínio. Nos dois primeiros meses de lactação, não foram detectadas alterações significativas no teor de lactose. O leite produzido por éguas da raça Adai do Cazaquistão caracteriza-se por um alto teor de gordura e lactose, atendendo, portanto, aos requisitos tecnológicos para a produção de cumus. De acordo com os resultados da pesquisa, constatou-se que a seleção homogênea dos pares parentais em forma de xícara + em forma de xícara garante o rendimento de descendentes de filhas em forma de xícara de 70% e arredondadas de 30%. Com a melhoria da seleção heterogênea de úberes arredondados + em forma de taça, o rendimento de éguas com úberes em forma de taça foi de 60% e arredondado de 40%.
Palavras-chave:
criação de cavalos leiteiros; criação de cavalos de rebanho; cavalo Adai
1. Introduction
The issue of providing the population with high-quality and nutritionally valuable dairy products remains urgent. Historically, mare’s milk has been used in various cultures, especially among nomadic peoples, as a valuable source of nutrition and for the production of kumis. Its unique composition makes mare’s milk a highly nutritious product (Akimbekov et al., 2023; Sharapatov et al., 2023; Sharapatov et al., 2025a).
Animal husbandry is considered one of the fields capable of addressing this challenge. Since vast areas of Kazakhstan are arid zones, efficient dairy cattle production is limited. Therefore, over the past 15 years, dairy horse and camel breeding have been developing successfully in these regions (Toishimanov et al., 2025; Sharapatov et al., 2025b).
The vegetation is dominated by semi-shrubs, i.e. shrubby plants, there are two types: monosyllabic inflorescences, the other is saline grasses. The most common of the former is wormwood, which has several types. The most noticeable in importance is the root crop (white, gray) in many types of pastures, including the root crop. It is a grass that is flexible for germination in places with wormwood-brown soils, among which it is salty and has a high weed content. In places, more wormwood grows in brown and dark chestnut salt flats, less often - artemisiafragrans, artemisiaarearia. In many types of pastures there is a landscape plant – anabasisaphylla.
One of the key selection traits in productive horse breeding is mare milk yield. However, milk productivity in horses—unlike dairy cattle—varies greatly depending on breed, age, physiological condition, management, and feeding. Moreover, the genetic basis of this trait has not been sufficiently studied, which complicates effective selection for increased milk yield. Highly productive mares generally exhibit particular exterior and conformation traits: a broad body, low stature, and a tendency to gain weight rapidly. Ideally, they should descend from high-yielding dams and sires with proven breeding value (Assanbayev et al., 2024; Kassymbekova et al., 2025a; Kassymbekova et al., 2023).
In high-yielding animals, the udder is conveniently positioned for milking, teats are well developed, and milk veins are clearly expressed. The most valuable mares are those that are easily and quickly accustomed to milking and that release milk steadily without the need for stimulation. Therefore, studying the factors affecting milk productivity, identifying phenotypic correlations, and determining genetic markers associated with milk yield is an important practical task. According to many researchers, mare milk yield depends on breed, age, foaling period, milking regime, season, type of feed, and management technology (Kassymbekova et al., 2025b; Anarkulov et al., 2025).
Previously, different authors have studied in detail the phenotypic and genotypic features of horses of the Kazakh breed. However, there is insufficient information in the scientific literature characterizing the level of milk productivity and its relationship with the main components of the milk of Adaev's horses in the natural and climatic zones of their breeding. The main components of the breeding of young horses are the milk content of mares, the composition of milk, physico-chemical parameters.
The level of milk productivity and the content of the main components in milk are the most important breeding traits in the dairy herd, therefore, the study of the nature of their relationship is of great interest (Mongush and Yuldashbaev, 2019).
Mares with high milk production are characterized by certain signs of appearance and constitution. They are broad-bodied, squat, and have the ability to recover quickly. It is desirable that they come from high-quality mothers, as well as from quality-tested breeding stallions.
Many works have been devoted to the physiology of lactation, the influence of various factors on milk productivity and ways to increase it. According to many researchers, the dairy productivity of mares depends on the breed, age, timing of foaling and milking of mares, season of the year, type of feed, feeding technology and maintenance of horses.
The purpose of the study was to determine the milk productivity of Kazakh horses of the Adai region in different selection options and technological parameters of milk for the production of cumus in the conditions of the Mangyshlak peninsula of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
2. The Purpose of the Work
Determination of milk productivity of Kazakh horses of the Adai breed with various selection options in the conditions of the Mangyshlak peninsula in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
3. Materials and Methods
The object of the study was the Kazakh horse of the Adai intra-breed type at “Taushyk” LLP (Tupkaragan District, Mangystau Region). All research was conducted within the Republic of Kazakhstan using the official appraisal instructions for local horse breeds (Kazakhstan, 2020).
The object of the study was full-aged mares (n = 30), selected according to the principle of analogues, taking into account age, body weight and udder shape. All the animals had breeding cards in the farm.
Milk productivity of mares was evaluated by gross milk yield, determined through monthly control milkings.
The daily estimated milk yield was calculated according to the Formula 1 of I.A. Saigin (1940):
where, Ус - daily milk productivity of the mare, kg; УТ - actual daily yield based on control milkings, kg; t – the duration of the mare’s participation in the milking process from the moment the foals are separated until the end of the final milking, hours; «24» – number of hours in a day.
Before milking began, milk yield was estimated based on foal live-weight gain during the first month of life, using the assumption that 1 kg of live-weight gain requires 10 kg of mare’s milk (Saigin, 1940)
During the research, the studied mares of the dairy herd were divided into 4 groups according to the shape of the udder: cup-shaped, rounded, flat and the rest.
An improved selection of mares for a stallion was carried out, in the pedigree of which the mothers had a cup-shaped udder. Selection options: cup-shaped + cup-shaped, cup-shaped + rounded, flat + cup-shaped, cup-shaped + primitive.
Udder shape was determined visually, while teat length and thickness were measured with a measuring tape. Bowl-shaped udder — conical teats, widely spaced (18–20 cm), directed downward; both halves evenly developed. Round udder — thickened, widely spaced (18–20 cm) teats; uneven development of halves, often pear-shaped at the base. Flat udder — short, flattened, closely spaced teats; uneven development of halves.
In high-dairy animals, the udder is more conveniently located for milking, the nipples are well developed, and the milk veins are pronounced. The most valuable animals are those that are easily and quickly accustomed to milking, steadily and reliably give milk..
Samples for analysis of fat, protein, and lactose content were collected according to standard procedures. Analytical equipment: “Klever-1M” (2018) for SOMO and lactose; Milkotester (2017) for milk fat; AM-2 analyzer (2017) for total protein.
4. Results
Adaev horses are well adapted to the harsh climatic conditions of the Mangystau region. They are very well adapted to the year-round shade. They have high fertility. In favorable weather and feeding conditions, the yield of foals from 100 mares can reach up to 95%.
Milk productivity should be assessed based on gross yield, which includes both the milking yield and the amount consumed by the foal. Gross yield reflects the physiological capacity of the animal and depends mainly on genotypic factors such as breed and individual characteristics. Commercial yield depends on both genotypic and environmental factors including technology, regime, and frequency of milking.
As a result of the study, it was found that the cup-shaped and rounded shape of the udder prevailed. The cup-shaped udder was observed in 39% of mares (Figure 1).
And the percentage of mares with a rounded udder shape averaged 37% (Figure 2).
The flat shape and others combined amounted to 24%, but no further work was carried out with these shapes. They showed low productivity.
When obtaining offspring among females with a cup-shaped udder, the animals of the first selection option are characterized by the highest milk production.
A stationary seasonal farm was established at “Taushyk” LLP for data collection. The study included 30 clinically healthy mares (Table 1).
The obtained data are consistent with the statements of a number of other researchers who believe that mares produce the maximum amount of milk during the 2nd–3rd month of lactation. With the onset of pregnancy, milk yield decreases, especially during its second half.
The indicators of the uniformity of milk secretion in mares of the studied groups are represented by the average daily milk yields. These data indicate that the milk-yield curves of mares in both groups are uniform, with a gradual downward trend.
Depending on the season of the year and the stage of lactation, the mass fraction of milk protein, milk fat, and lactose may vary (Table 2).
By the end of the lactation period, the content of fat in mare’s milk increases significantly, and this pattern is associated with a considerable decline in milk yield.
When assessing the productive traits of Kazakh mares, the content of protein is an important parameter. During the observation period, it was recorded that the highest protein content occurred in summer, while the lowest was observed in autumn. This process can be explained by three factors: changes in the feed balance, active fattening of the animals during the autumn period, and the influence of the onset of a new pregnancy.
One of the key components of mare’s milk used in koumiss production is lactose. The data in the table indicate a sufficiently high lactose content in the milk of the studied mares.
A characteristic feature of the dynamics of milk sugar content during lactation has been identified. The highest lactose concentration was observed in the 4th month of lactation, followed by a decline. In the first two months of lactation, no significant changes in lactose content were detected.
5. Conclusion
As the conducted research has shown, the homogeneous selection of parental pairs cup-shaped + cup-shaped ensures the yield of offspring of daughters cup-shaped 70% and rounded 30%.
With the improving heterogeneous selection of rounded + cup-shaped, the yield of mares with cup-shaped udders was 60% and rounded 40%.
Milk obtained from mares of the Kazakh Adai breed is characterized by a high fat and lactose content and therefore meets the technological requirements for the production of koumiss.
Data Availability Statement
The research data is available in the text of the article.
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Edited by
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Editor:
Takako Matsumura Tundisi
