Milk yield and milk composition of lactating queens

The milk yield and composition throughout lactation were determined for six queens with seven litters. The yield was estimated by weighing the kittens before and after suckling, and the macronutrients, lactose, the major and trace elements, fatty acid pattern and vitamin A were analysed in milk samp les drawn at intervals during the lactation period. There was a significant correlation between milk yield, litter size and the stage of lactation. Pe ak lactation occurred between the second and fourth week. Milk yield amount ed to between 1.7% (one and two kittens) and 7.3% of body weight (six kitte ns). The energy content averaged 490 kJ/100 g milk. Changes of the calcium concentration with corresponding effects on the calcium: phosphorus-ratio ( 0.68-1.17:1) and the phosphorus concentration during lactation were shown. Data on vitamin A (651 +/- 366 IU/100 g milk), taurine (0.57 g/16 g N) as w ell as arachidonic acid (1.7 +/- 0.9% of milk fat) were obtained.