Kumiss

[Nancy Bradford-Reid]

>
>Catherine, is there a particular time of year or other such window
>when the mare's milk is available or not?
>
>Stefan li Rous
><<<<
>
When mares have babies.  Most horses are bred so that the babies come in
the spring.  Feb and Mar for this area, probably a little later farther
north.  Racehorses are probably set to come as close to January as
possible, since that is when all of their birthdays are officially (Jan 1).
Once the baby is weaned, around 3 months or so, the milk will dry up, but,
just as in cows--or humans for that matter--if you keep milking, it will
keep coming, whether there's a foal or not.  That is how the Mongols had
milk all year round.

Catherine

Nan Bradford-Reid
The Department of English
The University of Texas
512-471-4991
n.b-reid at mail.utexas.edu