Vioara Mireșan

Seasonal changes of buffalo colostrum: physicochemical parameters, fatty acids and cholesterol variation

BackgroundColostrum has many beneficial effects on newborns due to its main compounds(proteins, fats, lactose, essential fatty acids, amino acids) as well asprotective antibodies that confer to the body. The buffaloes are the secondimportant species for milk production in the world after cows. The importance ofthe species is also conferred by a longer longevity, high dry content of milk anda strong organic resistance when compared with cows. The purpose of this study wasto investigate the changes of buffalo colostrum compounds such as fatty acids,cholesterol and physicochemical parameters during the first seven dayspostpartum and under the impact of the season, summer on pasture andwinter on dry diet (hay based).ResultsFat from colostrum differs depending on the postpartum day showing meanvalues of 11.31-7.56% (summer season) and 11.22-7.51% (winter season). Thesevalues gradually decreased starting with first day postpartum until dayseven. Dry substance and protein presented a similar evolution to fat reaching thelowest values at the end of the colostral period. Lactose, ash and pH showed agradually increase reaching the maximum on day seven postpartum. Thehighest titres of fatty acids from colostrum are: butyric acid (C4:0), myristicacid (C14:0), palmitic acid (C16:0), oleic acid (C18:1) and the lowest valuesshowed up in myristoleic acid (C14:1), cis-10-pentadecanoic acid (C15:1),pentadecylic acid (C15:0) and margaric acid (C17:0) for both seasons. Higherconcentrations have been recorded for the summer season in general. Cholesterolconcentration decreased from 12.93 and 12.68 mg/100 mL (summer and winter season)to 9.02 and 7.88 mg/100 mL in the end of the colostral period.ConclusionsPhysicochemical compounds of buffalo colostrum were influenced by season andpostpartum day of milking. Excepting lactose all other parametersgradually decreased during colostral period. Fatty acids and cholesterol showedthe same evolution, presenting higher values for the summer season. Specificfeeding in the summer season (on pasture) did lead in more concentrated colostrumin dry substance, fatty acids and cholesterol.