Physicochemical and cellular characteristics of milk from jersey cows raised in the State of São Paulo during the first month of lactation: determination of references values and variations during the colostral phase

Author(s)

Raquel Fraga e Silva Raimondo

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ/SBD)
• Defense date: 2006-07-31

Examining board members

Eduardo Harry Birgel Júnior; José Luiz D'Angelino; Juarez Pinto Fernandes Távora

• Advisor: Eduardo Harry Birgel Júnior

Abstract

With the aim to establish reference values of the physicochemical and cellular characteristics of milk from Jersey cows, raised in the State of São Paulo, during the first month of lactation, as well as to evaluate the influence of the colostral phase, the number of lactations, and the bacterial growth within health mammary glands on milk composition, 617 milk samples were examined: 418 were obtained from healthy mammary glands without bacterial growth and 199 samples obtained from health mammary glands with bacterial growth. Milk samples were collected aseptically before milking and the following parameters were evaluated: pH, electrical conductivity, chlorate, lactose, chlorate/lactose ratio, fat, proteins, total solids, California Mastitis Test (CMT), and somatic cell count. Significant influences was demonstrated during the first month of lactation relative to the physicochemical characteristics, since the pH values were lower during the first three days of lactation and were increased gradually; electrical conductivity was reduced during the first five days of lactation; the levels of chlorate and the chlorate/lactose ratio were reduced; there was an abrupt increase in the levels of lactose during the first two days, after which this increase was gradual; the levels of fat were varied during the first days and were reduced with effect from the 7th day of lactation; the levels of protein and total solids were reduced. The lactation phase also demonstrated significant influence on the frequency of CMT reactions and the somatic cell count. The frequency of the negative CMT reactions was higher during the first 12 months of lactation while the somatic cell count was reduced during the same period. The physicochemical and cellular characteristics of milk were influenced by the number of lactations for the following variables: chlorate was higher in pluriparous cows; lactose was higher in primiparous cows; the chlorate/lactose ratio was higher in pluriparous cows, and protein was elevated in pluriparous cows. It was demonstrated that milk obtained from healthy mammary glands with bacterial growth within the samples influenced the milk composition since the pH values, electrical conductivity, protein, and the somatic cell count were higher in samples from milk bacterial growth, and the frequency of negative California Mastitis Test reactions were lower in samples with bacterial growth. Considering the first 24 hours after partition the following reference values were established for physicochemical and cellular characteristics of milk of Jersey cows raised in the State of São Paulo: pH, between 6.37 ± 0.14 and 6.43 ± 0.23; electrical conductivity, between 5.24 ± 0.61 and 6.00 ± 0.16 mS/cm; chlorates, between 154.10 ± 29.03 and 155.50 ± 56.66 mg/dl; lactose, between 3.14 ± 0.66 and 3.69 ± 0.77 g/dl; chlorates/lactose ratio, between 4.80 ± 3.99 and 5.22 ± 1.84; fat, between 1.35 ± 1.17 and 2.90 ± 2.29 g/dl; protein, between 8.09 ± 2.35 and 10,95 ± 1.24 g/dl; total solids, between 13.01 ± 1.98 and 18.18 ± 3.20 g/dl; and number of somatic cells, between 946.444 ± 1.1198.319 and 1.355.273 ± 1.829.318 cells/ml. The frequency of occurrence of negative CMT reactions was: negative, between 87.8 and 96.30%; half cross, between 0.00 e 4.87%; one cross, 0.00 %; two crosses, 0.00 %; and three crosses, between 3.70 e 7.31%. The following reference values were established between the 2nd and 7th day of lactation: pH, between 6.50 ± 0.15 and 6.61 ± 0.16; electrical conductivity, between 5.12 ± 0.66 and 5.72 ± 0.69 mS/cm; chlorates, between 89.97 ± 24.80 and 114.40 ± 39.28 mg/dl; lactose, between 4.18 ± 0.50 and 4.42 ± 0.57 g/dl; chlorate/lactose ratio, between 2.23 ± 1.78 e 2.94 ± 2.03; fat, between 2.06 ± 1.50 and 3.09 ± 2.19 g/dl; protein, between 4.09 ± 0.35 and 4.83 ± 0.66 g/dl; total solids, between 12.07 ± 1.33 and 12.98 ± 1.93 g/dl; and number of somatic cells, between 555.553 ± 1.265.531 and 874.677 ± 1.443.014 cells/ml. The frequency of the occurrence of CMT reactions was: negative, between 72.34 and 87.20%; half cross, between 2.00 and 6.38%; one cross, between 2.00 and 8.51 %; two crosses, between 2.32 and 8.51%; and three crosses, between 2.12 and 14.00%. The following reference values were established between the 8th and 30th day of lactation: ph, between 6.61 ± 0.12 and 6.71 ± 0.13; electrical conductivity, between 5.14 ± 0.53 and 5.23 ± 0.59 mS/cm; chlorates, between 92.58 ± 29.08 and 96.73 ± 28.86 mg/dl; lactose, between 4.42 ± 0.51 and 4.74 ± 0.41 g/dl; chlorates/lactose ratio, between 2.11 ± 0.96 and 2.20 ± 1.01; fat, between 1.96 ± 0.99 and 2.49 ± 1.27 g/dl; protein, between 3.56 ± 0.29 and 4.02 ± 0.72 g/dl; total solids, between 11.23 ± 1.13 and 11.70 ± 1.27 g/dl; and the number of somatic cells, between 121.632 ± 316.269 e 433.419 ± 1.297.486 cells/ml. The frequency of the occurrence of CMT reactions was: negative, between 93.10 and 93.54 %; half cross, between 0.00 e 5.17%; one cross, between 0.00 and 1.61%; two crosses, 1.61 and 1.72%; and three crosses, between 0.00 and 3.22%. (AU)