RELATIONSHIP OF BLOOD METABOLITES WITH MILK FATTY ACID COMPOSITION IN DAIRY BUFFALOES

Published: November 20, 2011

By: Shaista Jan, Anila Mushtaq, Inauat ur Rahman and Muhammad Subhan Qureshi

Summary

The blood metabolites concentration determines the animal energy status. Milk synthesis is influenced by the flow of substrates from the blood circulation to the mammary tissues. The present study was conducted to investigate changes in milk yield and fatty acids profile in relation to blood metabolites with advancing age. A total of 12 multiparous lactating dairy buffaloes were selected from military dairy farm, located in Peshawar. The animals were kept in uniform management conditions. All the buffaloes were stall fed and green fodders were provided ad libitum and concentrate mixture at the scale of 1 kg/2L of milk production. The animals were divided into two groups younger (1-4 lactation number) and mature (8-10 lactation number) six animals in each, which were further subdivided into early (1-3 months) and late (7-10 months) of lactation stage. The experiment continued for six weeks starting from 1st week of November upto 2nd week of December 2009. A total of 72 milk and blood samples were weekly collected for analysis of blood triglyceride and milk fatty acids profile. The fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) were determined using gas chromatograph mass spectrometer (GCMS). Concentration of triglyceride and glucose were higher in elder group compared with younger ones. Saturated fatty acid (SFA) has the highest concentration out of the total milk fatty acids and was averaged about 70.41g/100g ranging from 64.96 to 78.83g/100g. Within SFA the highest concentration was of C16:0 (31.24g/100g) followed by C14:0 (12.02g/100g) and C18:0 (11.43g/100g). The sum of three hypercholestremic fatty acids (HCFA C12:0, C14:0 and C16:0) was 45.79g/100g. The average concentration of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) was 35.04g/100g varying from 21.17 to 29.59g/100g. The concentration of SFA as well as HCFA were significantly higher in elder buffaloes (71.91g/100g and 48.11g/100g, respectively) compared with younger ones (68.94g/100g and 45.47g/100g, respectively). The UFA and cardioprotecrive fatty acids were higher in younger animals as compared with mature. It was concluded that the younger animals at early lactation stage has produced healthier milk. Keywords: blood metabolites, milk fat, buffalo

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