Veterinary Archives, Vol. 78 No. 3, 2008.
Original scientific paper
The influence of the season on the chemical composition and the somatic cell count of bulk tank cow’s milk
Vesna Dobranić
; Department of Hygiene and Technology of Foodstuffs of Animal Origin, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Bela Njari
; Department of Hygiene and Technology of Foodstuffs of Animal Origin, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Marko Samardžija
; Clinic for Obstetrics and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Zagreb, Croatia
Branimir Mioković
; Department of Hygiene and Technology of Foodstuffs of Animal Origin, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Ružica Resanović
; Graduate, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The aim of our research was to establish the influence of the season on the chemical composition of bulk tank cow’s milk and the somatic cell count in it. The bulk tank cow’s milk samples were collected daily during a period of one year. When the milk was brought to the dairy in special tanks, before pouring bulk tank milk, samples were taken that we marked as «tours». Milk samples were taken in three tours from the tanks every seven days, and 144 tours were processed in total. Comparing chemical indicators of milk quality, milk fat levels were significantly higher in the winter and the autumn (P<0.05) in comparison to the periods of spring and summer. Protein levels significantly differed between the seasons (P>0.05), and the highest levels were registered during the winter. Lactose level was significantly higher during the winter and the spring (P<0.05), and the NFDM (non fat dry matter) was significantly lower in the summer, in comparison to the other seasons (P<0.05). Determining the somatic cell count (SCC) in the bulk tank cow’s milk samples, we established that
during the winter the somatic cell count was significantly higher in comparison to the other seasons (P<0.05). However, we did not determine significant, high or positive correlations between the chemical composition of the milk and the somatic cell count in either of the seasons. Based on the results of our research, we concluded that the season has an influence on the somatic cell count and the chemical composition of fresh cow’s milk, but not on the correlations between them.
Keywords
cow; milk; chemical composition; somatic cell count; season
Hrčak ID:
24196
URI
Publication date:
9.6.2008.
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