Electronic Journal of Polish Agricultural Universities (EJPAU) founded by all Polish Agriculture Universities presents original papers and review articles relevant to all aspects of agricultural sciences. It is target for persons working both in science and industry,regulatory agencies or teaching in agricultural sector. Covered by IFIS Publishing (Food Science and Technology Abstracts), ELSEVIER Science - Food Science and Technology Program, CAS USA (Chemical Abstracts), CABI Publishing UK and ALPSP (Association of Learned and Professional Society Publisher - full membership). Presented in the Master List of Thomson ISI.
2005
Volume 8
Issue 3
Topic:
Animal Husbandry
ELECTRONIC
JOURNAL OF
POLISH
AGRICULTURAL
UNIVERSITIES
Reklewska B. , Bernatowicz E. , Reklewski Z. , Kuczyńska B. , Zdziarski K. , Sakowski T. , Słoniewski K. 2005. FUNCTIONAL COMPONENTS OF MILK PRODUCED BY POLISH BLACK-AND-WHITE, POLISH RED AND SIMMENTAL COWS, EJPAU 8(3), #25.
Available Online: http://www.ejpau.media.pl/volume8/issue3/art-25.html

FUNCTIONAL COMPONENTS OF MILK PRODUCED BY POLISH BLACK-AND-WHITE, POLISH RED AND SIMMENTAL COWS

Barbara Reklewska1, Elżbieta Bernatowicz1, Zygmunt Reklewski2, Beata Kuczyńska1, Krzysztof Zdziarski1, Tomasz Sakowski2, Krzysztof Słoniewski2
1 Animal Science Faculty, Warsaw Agricultural University - SGGW, Poland
2 Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec, Poland

 

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study was to estimate the content of functional components of milk in some major cattle breeds. The study was performed in two parts. The first was conducted on Black-and-White (BW) and Polish Red (PR) cows. All animals were kept as one herd at Popielno, and maintained according to the traditional extensive feeding system. Bulk milk samples were used, representing the milk of 349 Simmental cows (SM) cows, maintained and fed in similar conditions to BW and PR animals. The second part included Black-and-White cows upgraded with HF (BW HF) and Simmental cows (SM). Animals of BWHF and SM breed originated from different herds. However, they were maintained and fed according to a similar system, without access to pasture. Milk was examined for antioxidants, CLA and other functional fatty acids as well as FFA and MDA content indicative of milk fat quality. The milk of SM cows maintained according to the traditional system significantly (p≤0.01) exceeded BW and PR for A and E vitamins, as well as C 4:0, C18:2, C20:4, C20:5, and C22:5, while was lower (p≤0.01) than of BW in the case of fat, MDA, FFA and C vitamin (p≤0.01) content. There was a highly significant interaction of breed and season. During the grazing season milk of BW cows contained significantly more (p≤0.01) fat, C vitamin, C18:1 trans 11 and CLA than that of SM. In the case of animals fed TMR diet, milk of SM exceeded significantly (p≤0.01) that of BW HF cows for fat, protein, CLA, C20:4 and C20:5 content, while MDA, FFA, cholesterol and C18:2 content of milk were higher in BW HF animals. Individual variation of CLA content differed among breeds and was the greatest (over 3 fold) in milk fat of BW cows.

Key words: bovine breeds milk, functional components.

INTRODUCTION

The constantly growing global market for “functional food” provides an important stimulus for further development of its major part i.e. the market for functional dairy products. Until recently the main source of functional dairy food was yoghurt with bioactive whey proteins and peptides. Other functional milk components, like vitamins with anti-oxidative properties, functional fatty acids, including trans isomers such as conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and trans vaccenic acid (TVA), although as important for human health as proteins and peptides, are not as popular among consumers. Since discovering the anticarcinogenic properties of CLA, intensive research on different animal models [10, 21] and on human cancer cells in vitro has confirmed the potent anticancer activity of CLA [20] and revealed an array of its other potential health benefits such as antiatherogenic, antidiabetic, and antiadipogenic effects [14]. These findings promoted the study of possible factors affecting CLA content in milk and animal tissues and the potential conditions necessary to increase its content. The variation in milk CLA content was most influenced by diet. [5, 11, 13, 14, 22, 23]. Breed differences were also studied. The breeds examined for milk CLA content included Irish Holstein, Dutch Holstein, Montbeliardes, Normandes [16], Holstein, Jersey, Brown Swiss and their crosses [7], Holstein and Jersey [26]. According to the quoted authors, breed differences in milk CLA content were significant, although rather small [26]. There is no data currently available regarding the milk content of health promoting components for cattle breeds in Poland. Thus, the milk of old type Black-and-White, Black-and-White upgraded with HF, Polish Red and Simmental cows was examined not only for CLA content but also for long-chain functional fatty acids like LA, LNA, AA, EPA, DHA and vitamins with antioxidative properties, as well as MDA and FFA content defining milk fat quality. Estimating the extent of between breed and within breed variation would permit the best potential source of functional milk components among native breeds to be found. As a result, programmes of producing and promoting milk with the greatest proportion of desirable components may be supported.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was performed on milk of cows representing different breeds. Except BW and PR cows grazed as one herd, the remaining animals i.e. BW HF and SM originated from different herds but were maintained and fed indoors without access to pasture.

The first part of the investigation was carried out on 25 cows of old type Black-and-White (BW) breed (no upgrading with HF blood), sired by 17 bulls and 37 cows of Polish Red (PR) indigenous breed, daughters of 24 sires. The animals of both breeds originated from the experimental herd of the Polish Academy of Science at Popielno, with an average daily milk yield of 13 kg. They were kept in a tie stall cowshed, fed extensively with a forage to concentrate ratio of about 90:10% and during summer grazed as one herd. Milk samples were collected during morning milking in July, October and March and transported to the laboratory in isothermic containers at a temperature of 4°C.

Additional data concerning the SM breed (Group A) were collected from the Dairy Unit in the Nowosądecki region. Bulk milk samples from 10 farms (taken in July, October and March) included milk of 349 cows with an average daily milk yield of 15.5 kg. No pedigree data was available. All farms used a similar system of housing. In winter cows were maintained indoors on preserved feeds. In summer they were grazed with concentrate supplementation.

The second part of the study was conducted on 39 Black-and-White cows with a share of over 85% of Holstein-Friesian blood (BW HF). The animals originated from the Polish Academy of Sciences experimental herd at Kosów, with an average daily milk yield of 23 kg and were kept in confinement with a free stall system and no access to pasture. Milking cows were fed ad libitum a complete total mixed ration (TMR) diet with a forage to concentrate ratio of 57 : 43%. The animals, chosen at random from the herd, were sired by 25 bulls (max. 6 daughters per sire). Milk was sampled during morning milking in December.

The Simmental (SM) breed was represented by two groups of animals. Group B consisted of 20 cows from a private farm located in the Nowosądecki region. The animals were housed in a similar manner to BW HF cows i.e. in a free-stall cowshed, with no access to pastures. They were fed preserved feeds with a forage: concentrate ratio of 53:47, but feeds were fed separately in the traditional way. The cows were daughters of 13 sires (with 1 to max 3 daughters of one sire. The average daily milk yield amounted to 18 kg). Milk samples were collected during morning milking in December.

Analytical examination included

Somatic cell counts were detected with flowing cytometer (Bentley) in order to exclude cows with inflammatory changes of the mammary gland. Basic milk composition i.e. protein and fat content was examined using Milko Scan FT 120 (Foss Electric).

For examination of the milk fat fraction, extraction was performed according to Rose-Gotliebe procedure [3]. Fat components like cholesterol and free fatty acids were fractionated with TLC, and quantified spectrophotometrically [6].

Content of fat and water soluble vitamins was examined with HPLC HP1050 series Hewlett Packard, using Sigma standards according to AOAC [3].

Identification and quantification of functional fatty acids in milk fat were determined on Hewlett Packard GC equipped with FID detector, using Ultra capillary column and HPCHEM programme. The procedure is described elsewhere [22].

Oxidative changes in milk fat were evaluated on the basis of Malone di-aldehyde content in milk according to Mroczek [19].

Statistical Analysis

Results of analytical examinations were included in the general linear model (GLM) procedure of SAS [2]. Since parity of cows and phase of lactation do not significantly affect breed and individual variation of most important functional components like CLA [15], for a comparison of the data related BW, PR, SM breed (bulk milk) analysis was performed according to the following multi factorial linear model.

Yijk= m + Ri + Oj +(Ri x Oj) + eijk

where:
m – general mean, Ri – breed effect, Oj – effect of sampling date, Ri x Oj – interaction of breed and sampling date, eijk – random error.

For a comparison of BWHF data with SM cows maintained with no access to the pasture a one way analysis of variance was applied.

The values presented were least square means (LSM) and standard errors (SE).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The basic milk components and fat quality traits of BW, PR and SM cows are presented in Table 1. Except for protein content similar in milk of the compared breeds, milk of SM cows contained significantly lower (p≤0.01) amount of fat than that of BW and PR breeds. Besides, MDA and FFA content were also lower (p<0.01) than of BW and PR breed, indicating the better fat quality of milk in SM cows. A lack of difference between BW and PR indigenous breed in daily milk yield was unexpected. However such results may have a source in the extensive feeding system, which does not allow the full genetic potential for milk production to be revealed, which is greater in BW than PR breed. The average milk protein content in BW and PR cows found in the present study was practically the same and comparable with the range of values reported for both breeds by Reklewski et al. [24]. The genetic variability of milk protein content across breeds ranges from 3.1 to 4.0 and is lower than that of fat. Reviewing the literature Maijala [17] quoted the following averages for fat and protein content SD’s of 0.37 and 0.22 respectively. The possibilities for a change in milk protein content are limited, apart from the milk of cows with mastitic changes in the mammary gland resulting in its decreased ability to synthesize milk protein [4]. In consequence, the main differences between compared breeds occurred in some milk fat fractions and in the content of individual fatty acids.

Table 1. Milk fat, protein, FFA and MDA content in Polish Black-and-White, Polish Red and Simmental cows (indoor in winter, grazed in summer)

Breed/Sam-
pling date

N

Fat (%)

Protein (%)

MDA
(mg per l milk)

FFA
(g per 100g fat)

LSM

SE

LSM

SE

LSM

SE

LSM

SE

Breed

 

BW

55

4.56aB

0.08

3.47

0.06

0.54A

0.02

0.40A

0.03

PR

93

4.34aC

0.06

3.43

0.05

0.54B

0.02

0.38B

0.02

SM

29

4.05BC

0.10

3.33

0.07

0.38AB

0.03

0.28AB

0.03

Significance

p≤0.01

 

p≤0.01

p≤0.05

Sampling Date

 

October

68

4.64A

0.07

3.44

0.05

0.54aB

0.02

0.39

0.02

March

43

4.32

0.09

3.45

0.06

0.47a

0.03

0.33

0.03

July

66

4.29A

0.07

3.37

0.06

0.45A

0.02

0.35

0.03

Significance

p≤0.01

 

p≤0.05

 

Interaction

 

BW x October

21

4.98

0.11

3.61

0.08

0.60

0.04

0.45

0.04

BW x March

9

4.47

0.17

3.47

0.12

0.54

0.05

0.35

0.06

BW x July

25

4.22

0.10

3.32

0.07

0.49

0.03

0.40

0.04

PR x October

37

4.31

0.08

3.27

0.06

0.59

0.03

0.40

0.03

PR x March

24

4.35

0.11

3.59

0.07

0.52

0.03

0.36

0.04

PR x July

32

4.37

0.09

3.42

0.06

0.50

0.03

0.39

0.03

SM x October

10

4.26

0.16

3.44

0.11

0.43

0.05

0.31

0.06

SM x March

10

4.13

0.16

3.28

0.11

0.36

0.05

0.27

0.06

SM x July

9

3.74

0.17

3.24

0.12

0.37

0.05

0.27

0.06

Significance

p≤0.01

p≤0.01

   
Means in the same column marked with the same characters differ significantly: a,b.. at p≤0.05; A,B.. at p≤0.01; MDA – Malone di-aldehyde; FFA – Free fatty acids.
BW – Black-and-White breed, PR – Polish Red breed, SM – Simmental breed.

The content of fat soluble vitamins with antioxidative properties i.e. A, E was (Table 2) highest in milk of SM cows and the difference was significant (p≤0.05) when compared with cows of BW and PR breed, while the content of C vitamin (also an antioxidant acting synergistically with E vitamin) was significantly higher (p≤0.01) in the milk of the BW breed compared with PR and SM cows, which compensated for the lower milk concentration of other antioxidants in this breed. All the vitamins and beta-carotene mentioned originated from the animal diet which was served in a similar manner regardless of breed. The differences may however also result from unequal intestinal absorption of the vitamins.

Table 2. Milk content of beta-carotene (mg per l milk) and vitamins (mg per l milk) with antioxidative properties in Polish Black-and-White, Polish Red and Simmental cows (indoor in winter, grazed in summer)

Breed/Sam-pling date

N

C vitamin

A vitamin

E vitamin

Beta-carotene

LSM

SE

LSM

SE

LSM

SE

LSM

SE

Breed

 

BW

55

16.70AB

0.49

0.53

0.02

1.06ab

0.03

0.30

0.01

PR

93

14.62A

0.34

0.51a

0.01

1.17a

0.02

0.30

0.01

SM

29

13.63B

0.61

0.57a

0.02

1.20b

0.04

0.29

0.01

Significance

p≤0.01

p≤0.05

p≤0.05

 

Sampling Date

 

October

58

16.95A

0.46

0.54A

0.02

1.21A

0.03

0.31A

0.01

March

43

11.54AB

0.55

0.45A

0.02

0.96AB

0.04

0.23A

0.01

July

66

16.46B

0.47

0.62A

0.02

1.26B

0.03

0.34A

0.01

Significance

p≤0.01

p≤0.01

p≤0.01

p≤0.01

Interaction

 

BW x October

21

20.87

0.71

0.54

0.03

1.15

0.05

0.32

0.02

BW x March

9

12.12

1.09

0.40

0.04

0.86

0.08

0.21

0.03

BW x July

25

17.09

0.65

0.65

0.02

1.17

0.05

0.36

0.02

PR x October

37

15.93

0.54

0.52

0.02

1.32

0.04

0.32

0.01

PR x March

24

12.07

0.67

0.41

0.02

0.93

0.05

0.22

0.02

PR x July

32

15.86

0.58

0.60

0.02

1.26

0.04

0.36

0.01

SM x October

10

14.04

1.03

0.56

0.04

1.16

0.07

0.27

0.02

SM x March

10

10.42

1.03

0.53

0.04

1.09

0.07

0.27

0.02

SM x July

9

16.42

1.09

0.62

0.04

1.35

0.08

0.33

0.03

Significance

p≤0.01

     
Means in the same column marked with the same characters differ significantly: a,b.. at p≤0.05; A,B.. at p≤0.01. BW – Black-and-White breed, PR – Polish Red breed, SM – Simmental breed.

The present investigations were focused not only on differences between native breeds that exist in milk CLA – 9 cis 11 trans C 18:2 content, but also on the most important polyunsaturated functional fatty acids i.e. LNA, AA, EPA and DHA. These functional PUFA were not as thoroughly examined as the major CLA isomer. They represent a negligible part of milk fat, in some cases close to the limits of detectability. Although present in small concentrations they exert many health promoting effects including anticarcinogenic, antimutagenic, immunostimulating, hypocholesterolemic and antiatherosclerotic properties [12, 13]. These beneficial effects provide sufficiently strong stimulation for intense research. Due to the discovery by Adloff et al. [1] that biosynthesis of CLA occurs as a result of the desaturation of trans vaccenic acid 11 trans C 18:1 (TVA) with delta-9 desaturase, TVA was also included into the analytical programme. When comparing the annual average of CLA and trans vaccenic acid (Table 3) the higher amounts (p>0.05) of both FAs were found in milk of BW cows compared with PR and SM breeds. The significance of these differences depended on the sampling time, since the interaction of breed and sampling time was statistically highly significant. In the autumn both TVA and CLA content in milk of BW cows significantly (p≤0.01) exceeded those of PR and SM breeds, while in summer the difference between breeds was minor. These results are in agreement with reports by Lawless et al. [16] who failed to demonstrate significant breed differences in CLA concentration between HF, Montbeliardes and Normandes during the grazing period. Also Morales et al. [18] in their experiment with HF and Jersey cows found a significant breed effect only in the content of oleic acid and short chained saturated fatty acids, while in the case of CLA the effect was insignificant. In another study by De Peters et al. [7] conducted on Holstein, Jersey and Brown Swiss cows, milk fat was not examined for CLA content, but data on delta-9 desaturase activity indirectly indicated a lower milk fat concentration of CLA in Jersey than HF cows while the highest levels were seen in the Brown Swiss breed, indicating a higher milk CLA concentration in the breed with the higher genetic potential for milk production.

Table 3. Milk content (g per 100 g fat) of BA, TVA, LA, CLA in Polish Black-and-White, Polish Red and Simmental cows (indoor in winter, grazed in summer)

Breed/Sam-pling date

N

C4:0 BA

C18 :1 t11 TVA

C18:2 LA

C18:2 9c11t CLA

LSM

SE

LSM

SE

LSM

SE

LSM

SE

Breed

 

BW

55

3.12AB

0.04

2.57

0.10

1.81A

0.04

0.96

0.03

PR

93

3.24Ac

0.03

2.29

0.07

1.94A

0.03

0.92

0.02

SM

29

3.35Bc

0.04

2.31

0.13

2.17A

0.05

0.86

0.04

Significance

p≤0.01

 

p≤0.01

 

Sampling Date

 

October

68

3.19A

0.03

2.93A

0.09

1.90

0.04

1.03A

0.03

March

43

3.35AB

0.04

1.74A

0.11

1.99

0.04

0.70AB

0.03

July

66

3.17B

0.03

2.49A

0.10

2.02

0.04

1.01B

0.03

Significance

p≤0.01

p≤0.01

 

p≤0.01

Interaction

 

BW x October

21

3.13

0.05

3.67

0.15

1.68

0.06

1.17

0.04

BW x March

9

3.20

0.08

1.71

0.23

1.82

0.09

0.71

0.07

BW x July

25

3.03

0.05

2.32

0.14

1.93

0.05

1.00

0.04

PR x October

37

3.05

0.04

2.99

0.11

1.84

0.04

0.98

0.03

PR x March

24

3.43

0.05

1.55

0.14

1.97

0.05

0.70

0.04

PR x July

32

3.23

0.04

2.34

0.12

2.01

0.05

1.08

0.04

SM x October

10

3.37

0.08

2.13

0.21

2.19

0.08

0.93

0.06

SM x March

10

3.43

0.08

1.96

0.21

2.19

0.08

0.70

0.06

SM x July

9

3.26

0.08

2.83

0.23

2.13

0.09

0.94

0.07

Significance

p≤0.01

p≤0.01

 

p≤0.01

Means in the same column marked with the same characters differ significantly:
a,b.. at p≤0.05; A,B.. at p≤0.01. BW – Black-and-White breed, PR – Polish Red breed, SM- Simmental breed.
BA - butyric acid; TVA – trans vaccenic acid; LA – linoleic acid; CLA – conjugated linoleic acid (C18:2 9c 11t).

In the present study a significant effect of breed (p≤0.01) was found in the case of butyric acid (C 4:0) (Table 3) and the greatest concentration of this acid was found in milk of the SM breed. No information on between breed differences of butyric acid content is reported in available literature. However, only recently it was identified as one of the functional milk components due to its potent antimicrobial and anticarcinogenic effects [for review see 23].

The highest differences between BW, PR and SM cows were found in the case of polyunsaturated acids i.e. AA, EPA and DHA (Table 4). Milk fat of SM cows contained significantly (p≤0.01) higher amounts of these fatty acids when compared with BW and PR breeds. All these functional fatty acids possess beneficial health promoting properties – lowering plasma cholesterol, as well as antiatherogenic and anti-inflammatory effects.

Table 4. Milk content of LNA, AA, EPA, DHA (g per 100 g fat) in Polish Black-and-White, Polish Red and Simmental cows (indoor in winter, grazed in summer)

Breed/Sam-pling date

N

C18:3 LNA

C20:4 AA

C20:5 EPA

C22 :6 DHA

LSM

SE

LSM

SE

LSM

SE

LSM

SE

Breed

 

BW

55

0.80

0.02

0.091A

0.004

0.055AB

0.002

0.016AB

0.001

PR

93

0.83

0.01

0.109A

0.003

0.070A

0.0015

0.022A

0.001

SM

29

0.84

0.02

0.186A

0.005

0.073B

0.002

0.023B

0.001

Significance

 

p≤0.01

p≤0.01

 

Sampling date

 

October

68

0.82

0.01

0.115A

0.003

0.062A

0.002

0.022A

0.001

March

43

0.80

0.02

0.123B

0.004

0.059B

0.002

0.016AB

0.001

July

66

0.84

0.02

0.148B

0.003

0.077AB

0.002

0.024B

0.001

Significance

 

p≤0.01

p≤0.01

 

Interaction

       

BW x October

21

0.79

0.02

0.069

0.005

0.046

0.003

0.015

0.002

BW x March

9

0.78

0.03

0.093

0.008

0.050

0.004

0.013

0.002

BW x July

25

0.83

0.02

0.110

0.005

0.068

0.002

0.020

0.001

PR x October

37

0.82

0.02

0.090

0.004

0.066

0.002

0.025

0.001

PR x March

24

0.82

0.02

0.094

0.005

0.060

0.002

0.015

0.001

PR x July

32

0.84

0.02

0.144

0.004

0.084

0.002

0.026

0.001

SM x October

10

0.86

0.03

0.188

0.008

0.067

0.004

0.024

0.002

SM x March

10

0.79

0.03

0.181

0.008

0.067

0.004

0.021

0.002

SM x July

9

0.85

0.03

0.190

0.008

0.078

0.004

0.025

0.002

Significance

 

p≤0.01

p≤0.05

 
Means in the same column marked with the same characters differ significantly: a,b.. at p≤0.05; A,B.. at p≤0.01.
BW – Black-and-White breed, PR – Polish Red breed, SM- Simmental breed.
LNA – linolenic acid; AA – arachidonic acid; EPA – eicosapentaenoic acid;
DHA – docosahexaenoic acid.

In mammals, AA as well as EPA and DHA are converted to prostaglandins, thromboxanes and leukotrienes of n-3 and n-6 series, respectively. Although they are present in milk fat in negligible amounts, they cannot be ignored because they are important components of the cell and membranes and they control membrane associated processes. However, it should also be noted that an uncontrolled, increased intake of these PUFA, may potentially result in an elevated risk of exposure to PUFA auto oxidation toxic products [25]. The content of all these important PUFA (except CLA) was the highest in milk fat of SM cows maintained according to the traditional system.

In the case of SM and BW HF cows maintained without access to pasture on TMR diet the protein and fat content (Table 5) as well as the content of majority functional fatty acids including CLA (Table 6) was higher in milk fat of SM cows than in BW HF cows and the difference between compared breeds was significant (p≤0.01). The milk fat content of CLA in both breeds was similar to the values found in milk of PR, BW and SM cows during winter feeding. The results quoted by Grega et al. [9] concerning milk content of long chain fatty acids seemed to confirm the superiority of the SM breed over BW and PR breeds but the mentioned results were limited to major milk fat components and neither CLA nor typical PUFA (AA, EPA, DHA) were mentioned.

Table 5. Major milk components and fat quality traits of BW HF and SM cows (TMR diet, no grazing)

Components

Units

Breed

BW HF
N=39

SM
N=20

LSM

SE

LSM

SE

Fat

%

3.99A

0.25

5.81A

0.35

Protein

%

3.34A

0.08

3.94A

0.11

MDA

mg per l milk

0.594A

0.037

0.396A

0.052

Cholesterol

g per 100 g fat

0.373A

0.019

0.306A

0.026

FFA

g per 100 g fat

0.392

0.020

0.356

0.029

BW HF – Black-and-White breed upgraded with HF, SM – Simmental breed. Means in the same rows marked with the same characters differ significantly: a,b.. at p≤0.05; A,B.. at p≤0.01. TMR – total mixed ration, MDA – Malone di-aldehyde, FFA – Free fatty acids.

Table 6. Milk functional fatty acids content (g per 100 g fat) of BW HF and SM cows (TMR diet, no grazing)

Functional fatty acids

Breed

BW HF
N=39

SM
N=20

LSM

SE

LSM

SE

LA

2.459A

0.054

1.793A

0.076

TVA

1.930

0.086

2.069

0.121

CLA 9c11t

0.606A

0.015

0.680A

0.021

LNA

0.645

0.015

0.636

0.021

AA

0.054A

0.002

0.127A

0.003

EPA

0.052A

0.002

0.069A

0.002

DHA

0.017

0.001

0.015

0.001

BW HF- Black-and-White breed upgraded with HF, SM- Simmental breed, Means in the same rows marked with the same characters differ significantly: a,b.. at p≤0.05; A,B.. at p≤0.01; TVA – trans vaccenic acid, LA – linoleic acid; CLA 9c 11t – conjugated linoleic acid; LNA – linolenic acid, AA – arachidonic acid; EPA – eicosapentaenoic acid; DHA – docosahexaenoic acid.

Summarizing, the results of the present study indicate that breed significantly affects the milk content of some functional components. The extent of between breed variation was lower than that connected with the season of the year, which is in line with the well known fact that the greatest variation in fatty acid profiles is influenced by the feeding regime [14]. It should be noted that, in the present investigation a significant interaction between breed and season on the milk fat content of functional fatty acids was demonstrated.

In general, between breed variation in fatty acid content was found to be lower than individual variation. In the case of CLA the individual milk fat content may differ over threefold [15]. In this respect, breeds compared in this study, maintained according the same system and fed the same diet were found to vary. The greatest range of individual values was found in the milk of BW breed during grazing season, where milk fat content of CLA ranged from 0.5 to 1.76 g per 100 g of fat.

It seems that using an integrated approach: i.e. coupling between breed and individual variation in milk content of functional components (particularly CLA) may have practical implications for the dairy industry in the production of milk or butter enriched in functional components.

CONCLUSIONS

  1. The milk of SM cows fed traditionally contained significantly (p<0.01) more A and E vitamins, BA, LA, AA, EPA and DHA than the BW and PR breed and less (p<0.01) fat, FFA, MDA and C vitamin.

  2. In the case of animals fed TMR diet, the milk fat, protein, CLA, AA, and EPA content as well as the quality of fat containing less cholesterol, FFA and MDA of SM cows exceeded significantly (p<0.01) that of BW HF cows.

  3. The breed differences in milk functional components although significant (p<0.01) were rather small.

  4. In the case of animals fed traditionally (indoors in winter and grazed in summer) there was a highly significant interaction of breed and season.

  5. During the grazing season the individual variation in milk fat CLA content varied between breeds and was the greatest in milk of the BW breed.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Supported by the State Committee for Scientific Research grant 6 PO 6Z 052 21.

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Barbara Reklewska
Animal Science Faculty,
Warsaw Agricultural University - SGGW, Poland
Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland
Phone: (22) 59 365 33
email: reklewska@alpha.sggw.waw.pl

Elżbieta Bernatowicz
Animal Science Faculty,
Warsaw Agricultural University - SGGW, Poland
Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland

Zygmunt Reklewski
Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding,
Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec, Poland


Beata Kuczyńska
Animal Science Faculty,
Warsaw Agricultural University - SGGW, Poland
Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland

Krzysztof Zdziarski
Animal Science Faculty,
Warsaw Agricultural University - SGGW, Poland
Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland

Tomasz Sakowski
Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding,
Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec, Poland


Krzysztof Słoniewski
Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding,
Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec, Poland


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