Compositional Changes in the Milk Secreted by Grazing Reindeer I. Gross Composition and Ash

Abstract

The chemical composition of pooled reindeer milk was determined at five intervals during the lactation cycle while the reindeer were grazing vegetation typically selected by the species. Mean values for Alaskan reindeer milk at midlactation were 31.6% dry matter, 15.5% fat, 8.6% casein, 1.5% whey protein, 3.1'% lactose, 1.3% ash, .20% citrate, .08% nonprotein nitrogen, .32% calcium, .27% phosphorus, .156% potassium, .068% chloride, .050% sodium, and .019% magnesium. Zinc, aluminum, iron, copper, manganese, boron, and molybdenum were much less.