Donkey Colostrum and Milk: How Dietary Probiotics Can Affect Metabolomic Profile, Alkaline Sphingomyelinase and Alkaline Phosphatase Activity

Positive results on animal health, feed efficiency, and milk’s nutritional content have been obtained after oral administration of probiotics. The aim of the present study was therefore to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with high numbers of multispecies probiotic formulations on the milk metabolomic profiles of alkaline sphingomyelinase (alk-SMase) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in donkeys. Methods: Twenty animals were randomly allocated to receive either a normal diet (group B) or a supplemented diet (group A). Colostrum and milk samples were obtained within 48 h, at 15 days (supplementation start), and at 45 days after parturition. Results: Different metabolomic profiles were observed between colostrum and milk, as were the concentrations of 12 metabolites that changed following 30 days of probiotic supplementation. Alk- SMase activity was found to be higher in donkey colostrum (vs. milk at 15 days); this enzyme, together with ALP, increased in milk after 30 days of probiotic supplementation. Conclusions: The results of the present study provide new insight into the complex changes in donkey colostrum and milk composition in the first 45 days of lactation and how the milk metabolome can be modulated by probiotic supplementation.