Lipid Globules and Fatty Acids in Milk of Lactating Raccoon (Nyctereutes procyonoides)

Abstract In this study, milk samples (n=52) from nine healthy female raccoons at 3–45 days of lactation were manually collected at a regular morning hour from all active teats and used to investigate the changes of lipid globules size, fatty acids (FAs) profile and fat content.The results indicated that raccoon milk is characterized by a high fat content. Small lipid globules sizing up to 6 µm prevailed with their greatest share in milk during lactation phases I and III. The milk fat content was increasing with the proceeding lactation, whereas the content of free FAs had a decreasing tendency. Totally eighteen FAs were identified in raccoon milk. The unsaturated long-chain C18–C20 FAs were dominating (over 60%). The individual FAs contents in raccoon milk did not exceed 1%, except for palmitic, vaccenic and linoleic acids representing over 20% of the total FA content.The study results can be used for establishing the energy requirements during the suckling period for proper growth and development of puppies.