This study investigated the effects of lactation period, foaling month and number, mare age, and regional factors on the quality parameters, amino acid composition, fatty acid profile, and nutritional indices of Kazakh mare’s milk under pasture conditions. A total of 240 milk samples were collected from Almaty and Zhambyl regions during the summer and autumn lactation periods. Standard physicochemical analyses determined fat, protein, casein, TS, and SNF contents, while amino acids were quantified via HPLC and fatty acids by GC. Significant seasonal differences were observed: summer milk contained higher PUFA (18.29%) and n-3 (5.71%) levels and exhibited lower SFA and AI values, indicating superior nutritional quality. Milk from younger mares (4 to 6 years) showed elevated essential amino acids and better lipid health indices compared to older mares. Zhambyl region samples had higher unsaturated fatty acids and SNF, while Almaty milk exhibited higher SFA and casein content. Amino acid profiling revealed that summer milk was enriched in glutamic acid, aspartic acid, serine, and histidine, whereas autumn milk contained more valine, leucine, methionine, and cysteine. PCA revealed distinct clustering based on season, mare age, and foaling period, confirming their substantial roles in shaping milk composition. These findings highlight that mare age, lactation period, and foaling timing significantly affect the nutritional quality of the mare’s milk. These results provide valuable insights for optimizing milk production and kumys fermentation strategies under traditional pasture-based systems.

Kumys, a traditional fermented dairy product derived from mare’s milk, possesses unique nutritional properties with significant potential in the functional food market. This study presents a comparative evaluation the chemical composition, and fatty acid profiles of kumys obtained from Kazakh mare’s milk across two key regions in southern Kazakhstan (Almaty and Zhambyl) over five months of lactation (July to November). A total of 240 kumys samples were analyzed using MilkoScan FT1 for standard milk parameters and gas chromatography GC Shimadzu GC-2010 Plus for fatty acid profiling. Principal component analysis (PCA), ANOVA, and correlation analysis were applied to explore regional and seasonal variation. The results revealed significant differences in the composition between regions and across lactation months. Kumys from the Almaty region exhibited higher levels of protein (1.59% vs. 1.41%), lactose (5.68% vs. 5.12%), and solids-not-fat, while Zhambyl samples showed higher fat content (1.86% vs. 1.52%) and more favorable thrombogenic index (TI) values. Notably, linoleic acid (C18:2n6c) content increased by 28% from July (0.46 g/100g fat) to November (0.59 g/100g fat), and alpha-linolenic acid (C18:3n3c) increased by 21% over the same period.. The n-6/n-3 ratio improved significantly in autumn months, particularly in Zhambyl, suggesting enhanced health-promoting qualities. PCA distinguished samples based on both geographic and seasonal factors, with lactation stage having a more substantial impact on kumys composition than region. These findings underscore the importance of lactation month and regional pasture characteristics in shaping the nutritional value of kumys and provide a scientific basis for optimizing their production and valorization in the dairy sector.

 This work aims to identify and study the probiotic potential of lactic acid bacteria isolated from mare's milk. One of the main probiotic properties of the obtained strains is resistance to acidic pH media and bile acid salts, resistance to various types of antibiotics, adhesive ability and high antagonistic activity against pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms. This article presents the study and isolation of lactic acid bacteria from mare's milk and presents the results of studying the biological properties of isolated strains and their identification. During the study, 98 isolates isolated from mare's milk samples were selected based on the biological properties of the strains. Some probiotic properties were determined using a total of 98 isolates, but the study continued with 41 strains. The most active strains that showed probiotic properties were selected from them, and the DNA model of the strains (deoxyribonucleic acid) was used in the genetic molecular diagnosis of microorganisms. When replicating the 16s gDNA zone, common bacterial primers for lactic acid bacteria were used. Based on 16s ribosomal gDNA analysis and carbohydrate profile, they were identified as Lactobacillus (L.) plantarum, L. Paracasei and L. casei.