Identification of protein fractions in mare's colostrum and milk

Aim of this study was to analyse protein fractions of mare's colostrum and milk by different separative procedures, based on electrophoretic (SDS-PAGE , CZE, SDS-CE) and immunochemical (RID) principles. These techniques allow a separation of different protein fractions according to their chemical cha racteristics. Colostrum and milk samples from different breeds were collected and a speci al attention was focused on some non-casein fractions, belonging to the imm unoglobulins family. The comparison of results obtained from the different techniques could permit to verify their separation power. SDS-PAGE, radial immunodiffusion (RID), and capillary electrophoresis (CE) were able to sepa rate and identify the major whey proteins and casein fractions of mare's co lostrum and milk in all:samples, with different specificity and good accura cy. In particular the optimisation of the SDS-CE approach could be facilita te the quantitative analysis of all protein components in colostrum and mil k with good accuracy. These experimental data also suggest their use for pa rticular objectives. The characteristic whey protein/casein ratio in mare's colostrum and milk could offer interesting possibility for its use in diet etics and pharmacology.