Comparative biochemical studies of milks—I. Electrophoretic analysis of milk proteins

A Longitudinal Study of Rhesus Monkey (Macaca mulatta) Milk Composition: Trace Elements, Minerals, Protein, Carbohydrate, and Fat

“…The ash content of primate milk appears higher than in human milk (3), probably reflecting the higher concentrations of calcium found in our study. The composition of both whey proteins and casein in monkey milk has a remarkable degree of similarity to those of human milk (26), and are different from virtually all other species analyzed. In addition, the ratio of casein and whey proteins in monkey (cynomolgus) milk appears similar to human milk, resulting in a similar amino acid composition (22).…”

Composition of Squirrel Monkey Milk

“…These patterns are differ ent from those of the whey proteins of milk from talapoin monkeys [Buss and Cooper, 1970b], baboons [Buss, unpubl. ] and rhesus monkeys [Sloan et al, 1961]. The milk sample taken from another squirrel monkey 2 days after her in fant's early death contained (in g/100 ml): lipids, 11.3; protein, 6.2; carbohy drate, 3.4; and ash, 0.56.…”

Changes in the Milk Proteins during Lactation in the Tammar Wallaby, Macropus eugenii

“…Albumin in milk and serum appear identical, but most other principal milk proteins are apparently specific to the mammary gland (Sloan et al 1961).…”

“…Total solids contents are higher than in cow or human milk; proteins and fats increase quantitatively and change qualitatively during lactation, but total sugar contents remain relatively constant. Caseins are found in marsupial milk, as well as the whey proteins, which remain in suspension after centrifugation or after the addition of acid to pH 4·6 (Sloan et al 1961;Thompson and Farrell 1974). The whey proteins show the greatest change during lactation, the most striking being observed in proteins with a similar electrophoretic mobility to fJ-Iactoglobulins and ex-Iactalbumins of bovine milk Jordan and Morgan 1968).…”

“…Six marsupial species have been sampled so far: the red kangaroo, M. rufus (Sloan et al 1961;Bailey and Lemon 1966;Lemon and Bailey 1966;Lemon and Barker 1967;Griffiths et al 1972); the opossum, Didelphis virginiana (Sloan et al 1961;Bergman and Housley 1968); the brush-tailed possum, Trichosurus vulpecula (Gross and Bolliger 1959); the grey kangaroo, M. giganteus (Lemon and Poole 1969;Messer and Mossop 1977); the quokka, Setonix brachyurus (Sloan et af. 1961;Kaldor and Ezekiel 1962;Jordan and Morgan 1968;Loh and Kaldor 1973); and the tammar, M. eugenii (Messer and Green 1979;Green et al 1980).…”