Equine Milk Production and Valorization of Marginal Areas—A Review

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The revaluation of equine milk for human consumption is showing an increased interest from a scientific point of view. As practical relapse of the peculiar characteristics of horse and donkey milk, and their potentialities as food products, the dairy equine enterprise is developing worldwide. The milk production can therefore contribute to the whole equine industry, but crucial factors still need to be elucidated. Aiming to promote advances of knowledge on the dairy equine enterprise, aspects of management of the dairy horse and donkey are reviewed in the frame of marginal areas, with a special focus on dam and foal feeding, and welfare, besides milk quality. ABSTRACT: The equine dairy chain is renewing the interest toward horse and donkey breeding for the production of milk with potential health promoting properties. The dairy equine chain for human consumption could contribute to the rural eco-sustainable development for the micro-economies of those areas threatened by marginalization. As a part of the whole equine industry, and its possible impact in the modern and future society, the main traits of the equine dairy enterprise are reviewed with a special focus on management of animals and milk. Equine milk compositional and nutritional peculiarities are described as also related to milk hygiene and health issues. Scientific and technical aspects of the feeding management are considered in the frame of the emerging dairy equine enterprise, where pasture is an essential element that allows to match production goals for horses and donkeys, biodiversity preservation, as well as landscape safeguard.