Business Thrives On Pregnant Mare Milk
Milk from pregnant mares is a valuable commodity with a lot of uses, says Noel Wiley of Harlingen, Texas. He's co-owner of "Wiley B. Equine Dairy Products" in partnership with Virgil Buffington of Jamesport, Mo. The men have recently begun purchasing mare's milk from six small Amish horse milking farms in Missouri and Wisconsin. To their knowledge, it's the only venture of its kind in North America.
The six horse dairies have a combined total of 150 producing animals. Wiley says the demand for mare's milk is very strong. Their processing plant in Jamesport receives about 300 gallons of milk a day.
Wiley and Buffington began establishing the business in June, and one of the many tasks that have kept them busy is overseeing that the milking barns meet Grade A health regulations (as in cow dairies). They've currently got a waiting list of several other Amish farmers who want to become horse milk suppliers.
Collection of horse milk is common in Mongolia, Wiley explains, and there's an extensive network of equine dairies in European countries such as Germany, France, Belgium, and Holland, where business is brisk.
"I've been to Europe twice researching mare's milk. Customers come right to those farms to buy milk," he says. "They sell fresh milk, frozen milk, powdered milk, capsules of powdered horse milk, liqueur, and even ice cream made with horse milk. European athletes are big users of horse milk products."
Back in the U.S., the partners pasteurize their milk and then spray dry it into powder without adding preservatives or flavorings. They then market it as a nutritional supplement, or process it as a key ingredient in a line of skin care products that they make.
The skin care products are branded "Ooh La Leche Mare's Milk Total Body Care Collection." Promotional material points out that pregnant mare's milk "contains many nutrients that the skin can easily absorb."
"The same gestational hormones that a woman produces during her own pregnancy are present in mare's milk û and the earliest physical sign in human pregnancy is the full, moist, radiant change in facial complexion," Wiley says. "This can be duplicated with the use of products made with pregnant mare's milk."
Wiley says there's also a market for American powdered horse milk in Asia where it's used in baby formula, yogurt, power drinks, liqueur and dietary supplement capsules.
When consumed fresh, mare's milk tastes sweet, smooth, and light, without any aftertaste. "Daily consumption of horse milk is very beneficial because it's extremely vitamin-rich, with lower calorie and fat content than cow's milk. It's also easily digestible, due to a higher albumin content. The same benefits can be accomplished using our powdered dietary supplement, but with added convenience. It's available in capsule or bulk form.
Mares are milked five times a day, using a special two-suction-cup milking machine that's powered by a diesel-powered vacuum pump.
Milking of the pregnant mares begins at their second month of pregnancy and finishes in their eighth month. Since they're re-bred soon after giving birth, mares still have foals on them during the six-month milking period. However, the foals are at least two months old and eating grain and hay before the farmers begin milking the mares.
The foals are separated from their mothers by a fence during the day to allow mechanical milking, but at night the pairs are re-united and turned out on pasture. Wiley says each mare produces about two gallons of milk per day. Draft breeds are generally the highest producers, and are normally calmer and easier to handle.
Wiley and Buffington sell a one-month supply of their dietary supplement capsules (90 per bottle) for $39.95 while the powdered horse milk is priced at $55 per lb. (special discounts apply for bulk purchases over 250 lbs.)
The company also offers hair and body shampoo and foot and body creams. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Wiley B. Equine Dairy Products, Ltd., 31438 State Hwy 6, Jamesport, Mo. 64648 (ph 660 684-6454; fax 660-684-6511; info@oohlaleche.com; www.oohlaleche.com).
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Business Thrives On Pregnant Mare Milk LIVESTOCK Horses/Mules Milk from pregnant mares is a valuable commodity with a lot of uses says Noel Wiley of Harlingen Texas He s co-owner of Wiley B Equine Dairy Products in partnership with Virgil Buffington of Jamesport Mo The men have recently begun purchasing mare s milk from six small Amish horse milking farms in Missouri and Wisconsin To their knowledge it s the only venture of its kind in North America
The six horse dairies have a combined total of 150 producing animals Wiley says the demand for mare s milk is very strong Their processing plant in Jamesport receives about 300 gallons of milk a day
Wiley and Buffington began establishing the business in June and one of the many tasks that have kept them busy is overseeing that the milking barns meet Grade A health regulations as in cow dairies They ve currently got a waiting list of several other Amish farmers who want to become horse milk suppliers
Collection of horse milk is common in Mongolia Wiley explains and there s an extensive network of equine dairies in European countries such as Germany France Belgium and Holland where business is brisk
I ve been to Europe twice researching mare s milk Customers come right to those farms to buy milk he says They sell fresh milk frozen milk powdered milk capsules of powdered horse milk liqueur and even ice cream made with horse milk European athletes are big users of horse milk products
Back in the U S the partners pasteurize their milk and then spray dry it into powder without adding preservatives or flavorings They then market it as a nutritional supplement or process it as a key ingredient in a line of skin care products that they make
The skin care products are branded Ooh La Leche Mare s Milk Total Body Care Collection Promotional material points out that pregnant mare s milk contains many nutrients that the skin can easily absorb
The same gestational hormones that a woman produces during her own pregnancy are present in mare s milk û and the earliest physical sign in human pregnancy is the full moist radiant change in facial complexion Wiley says This can be duplicated with the use of products made with pregnant mare s milk
Wiley says there s also a market for American powdered horse milk in Asia where it s used in baby formula yogurt power drinks liqueur and dietary supplement capsules
When consumed fresh mare s milk tastes sweet smooth and light without any aftertaste Daily consumption of horse milk is very beneficial because it s extremely vitamin-rich with lower calorie and fat content than cow s milk It s also easily digestible due to a higher albumin content The same benefits can be accomplished using our powdered dietary supplement but with added convenience It s available in capsule or bulk form
Mares are milked five times a day using a special two-suction-cup milking machine that s powered by a diesel-powered vacuum pump
Milking of the pregnant mares begins at their second month of pregnancy and finishes in their eighth month Since they re re-bred soon after giving birth mares still have foals on them during the six-month milking period However the foals are at least two months old and eating grain and hay before the farmers begin milking the mares
The foals are separated from their mothers by a fence during the day to allow mechanical milking but at night the pairs are re-united and turned out on pasture Wiley says each mare produces about two gallons of milk per day Draft breeds are generally the highest producers and are normally calmer and easier to handle
Wiley and Buffington sell a one-month supply of their dietary supplement capsules 90 per bottle for $39 95 while the powdered horse milk is priced at $55 per lb special discounts apply for bulk purchases over 250 lbs
The company also offers hair and body shampoo and foot and body creams Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Wiley B Equine Dairy Products Ltd 31438 State Hwy 6 Jamesport Mo 64648 ph 660 684-6454; fax 660-684-6511; info@oohlaleche com; www oohlaleche com
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