The combined data of milk composition of 14 African elephants over 25 months of lactation are presented. The milk density was constant during lactation. The total protein content increased with progressing lactation, with caseins as the predominant protein fraction. The total carbohydrates steadily decreased, with the oligosaccharides becoming the major fraction. Lactose and isoglobotriose reached equal levels at mid lactation. The milk fat content increased during lactation, as did the caprylic and capric acids, while the 12 carbon and longer fatty acids decreased. The fatty acid composition of the milk phospholipids fluctuated, and their total saturated fatty acid composition was low compared to the triacylglycerides. The milk ash and content of the major minerals, Na, K, Mg, P, and Ca, increased. Vitamin content was low, Vitamin E occurred in quantifiable amounts, with traces of vitamins A, D3, and K. The energy levels of African elephant milk did not change much in the first ten months of lactation, but they increased thereafter due to the increase in protein and fat content. The overall changes in milk composition appeared to be in two stages: (a) strong changes up to approximately 12 months of lactation and (b) little or no changes thereafter.

中文翻译：

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哺乳期非洲象乳成分的动态变化。

提供了哺乳期25个月内14头非洲象的牛奶成分的综合数据。泌乳期间乳汁密度恒定。总蛋白含量随着泌乳的进行而增加，酪蛋白为主要蛋白组分。总碳水化合物稳定减少，而寡糖成为主要部分。哺乳中期，乳糖和异球蛋白三糖达到相等的水平。乳汁中的脂肪含量增加了，辛酸和癸酸也增加了，而12种碳和更长的脂肪酸减少了。乳磷脂的脂肪酸组成波动，与三酰基甘油酯相比，它们的总饱和脂肪酸组成低。乳灰和主要矿物质Na，K，Mg，P和Ca的含量增加。维生素含量低 维生素E的含量可量化，并含有微量的维生素A，D3和K。在哺乳期的前10个月，非洲象奶的能量水平变化不大，但之后由于蛋白质和脂肪含量的增加而增加了。牛奶成分的总体变化似乎处于两个阶段：（a）哺乳期约12个月时发生强烈变化；（b）此后变化很小或没有变化。