Langlois, Bertrand. "The History, Ethnology and Social Importance of Mare’s Milk Consumption in Central Asia"

I will be examining:

Langlois, Bertrand. "The History, Ethnology and Social Importance of Mare’s Milk Consumption in Central Asia". In the Journal of Life Sciences 5 (2011) 863-872, October 30, 2011. http://www.davidpublishing.com/DownLoad/?id=2643

Langlois explains that the origins of the domesticated horse are difficult to pinpoint, as is the time of domestication. When the horse is domesticated, it is firmly documented 10,000 years ago but Langlois cites the use of halters in cave art depictions of horses. Additionally documentation is presented on the horse as being presented as a milk and meat animal in Botai, in Kazakhstan, near Mongolia. Signs of domestication are found and later, this would develop into chariot and harness use. Langlois goes on to explain that riding the horse is originally from the steppes of Kazakhstan .

In addition to harnesses, other horse based technology would come out of these regions to become instrumental influences on world history. To ease riding and mounted combat, they created the tree saddle and most likely wooden stirrups. They also developed good composite bows for riding and using from horseback.  In some regions, riders would instead learn the lance instead of bow. These forms of riding and combat would later influence other cultures and regions who would adopt these weapons, horses and technology.

Do to a scarcity of goods horses were domesticated in roving herds and people followed them. There are also customs discouraging the preservation of food for winter to avoid being more like agricultural groups. Animals are born and raised for resistance to the elements, such as the terrible cold and lack of food. Usually, these animals are horses, but some regions specialize in other animals more adapted to the specific location. Efforts are made to preserve nature and make minimal impact and locations are observed.

There are evaluations done based off their Nomadic farming called “zhud” which are crisis which can strike, such as over grazing, regions icing over and drought. They disperse from regions of zhud and seek to minimize the effects on the land. Animals which prevent overgrazing yet are good at grazing are favored. Religious discrimination exists among animals, with a favoritism to warm muzzled animals such as horses (rather than cold muzzled animals like camels, goats and cattle) for its ability to discriminate when grazing. This makes the Mongolian horse and efficient meat animal for the region with good adaptions. It was also a good war and combat mount.

Mongolian horses are honored and they have many things made of the products and animals are evaluated on their ability to give milk. Airag is made from mare’s milk. Mare’s milk is considered consecrated and magical. The Airag is also used in rites and rituals like the mare’s milk. It is also used as medicine. Horse milk is like human milk in it being lightest and aqueous with high lactose and low fat. They may help prevent the tissues of the intestinal epithelium from infections and tumors with fat globules. The milk has some elements to help with tissue repair and is similar to the human composition of 1:1 protein ratio in milk and so cannot be used to make cheese. The casein is beta-casein with a little alpha-casein and almost no kappa-casein, which may be why it is hypoallergenic.

Although some regions are commercially milking horses in larger scales, it may not prove to be economical in other regions in the long run. The commercial making of horse milk based drinks are heavily monitored. It is difficult to purchase and more likely to just be readily available handmade in the steppes rather than commercially.

Although the horse’s milk has been very valuable for a long time it is not likely to be commercially available. It is still nutritionally similar in some ways to a human milk and is hypoallergenic. It cannot be used to make cheese along yet it has many health benefits. It is also ecological. However, for those vulnerable to lactose, the milk is higher in lactose than other mils although infant may digest them well. Education is important as the cultures are surrounded by globalization and move away from traditions.