Fatty acids profile of milk and milk products in cow and buffalo fed roughage based diet

Abstract

Diet composition is an important determinant of milk production and composition, including milk fatty acid profile. Present experiment evaluated the influence of diet on milk fatty acid composition of cow and buffaloes, which have varying genetic potential of milk secretion and mammary lipogenesis. Sixteen of each multiparous crossbred cows and Murrah buffaloes were divided in 2 equal groups of each species with 8 animals in each group making 4 groups altogether (groups 1 and 2 for cows and groups 3 and 4 for buffaloes). Cows and buffaloes of groups 1 and 3 were fed ad lib. berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) fodder along with wheat straw, whereas, animals of groups 2 and 4 were offered concentrate mixture and wheat straw. Fatty acid profiles were determined of milk samples and ghee (clarified butter oil) prepared at fortnight intervals by indigenous and creamery (commercial) methods from the total milk collected from each group. Total milk fat, protein, total solids and solid not fat contents of milk were similar between cow and buffaloes irrespective of dietary changes. Total CLA content in milk was higher in berseem fed groups of both the species. In conclusion, total PUFA and SFA levels of cow and buffalo milk with same feeding regimen were nonsignificant. However, the total MUFA content significantly increased in cows when fed with green fodder as compared to buffaloes. Furthermore, total CLA content in ghee prepared using indigenous method was higher as compared to that of creamery method.