The influence of the season and milking time on the properties and the fatty acid composition of the milk in different dairy cattle farms

Abstract

The fatty acid content and physicochemical composition of the milk obtained from 3 cattle farms at summer and winter season for different milking time were studied. Physicochemical properties varied due to different feeding strategies used in the observed farms. The lowest values of total fat and protein were observed in winter time with the highest fat content of morning milking. The groups of fatty acids (FAs), namely saturated (SAFA), monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA) were examined together with the individual acids with short and long chains. The major fatty acids of milk samples were myristic, palmitic, stearic and oleic acids. In the summer season the content of unsaturated fatty acid was quantitatively higher than the saturated fatty acid. It can be concluded that the fatty acid composition and quality of milk was significantly depended on breeding, feeding strategies, milking and cattle management practices.