|
|
Article: Effect of Udder Health Status and Lactation Phase on the Characteristics of Sardinian Ewe Milk
- Article from:
- Journal of Dairy Science
- Article date:
- August 1, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright American Dairy Science Association Aug 2004. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
|
ABSTRACT
Mammary involution and inflammation are known to negatively affect milk quality. A trial was carried out to elucidate the mechanism by which udder health status and lactational phase determine compositional modifications in ovine milk. A total of 60 individual milk samples was collected from a group of 20 pluriparous Sardinian ewes from mid to late lactation. Each sample was assessed for its chemical characteristics, quantitative distribution of casein fractions, lactodynamographic characteristics, and enzymatic activity. Udders were classed as healthy, doubtful, or infected on the basis of repeated somatic cell counts, and samples were grouped in 3 classes of days in milk. Results ...