Raw milk composition of Malian Zebu cows ( Bos indicus) raised under traditional system

• Published in: Journal of food composition and analysis Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. 29 - 38
• Main Authors: Bonfoh, Bassirou, Zinsstag, Jakob, Farah, Zakaria, Simbé, Cheikh F., Alfaroukh, Idriss O., Aebi, Riccardo, Badertscher, René, Collomb, Marius, Meyer, Jacques, Rehberger, Brita
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.02.2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal productions; ash content; Biological and medical sciences; bovine mastitis; Composition; dry season; fatty acid composition; feed supplements; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; lactose; lactosemonhydrate; Mali; Methods of analysis, processing and quality control, regulation, standards; Milk; milk analysis; milk composition; milk fat; milk proteins; nitrogen compounds; nonprotein nitrogen; raw milk; seasonal variation; somatic cell count; Subclinical mastitis; Supplementary feeding; Terrestrial animal productions; total solids; traditional farming; Vertebrates; warm season; Zebu; zebu breeds; Mali; Composition; Subclinical mastitis; Supplementary feeding; Zebu; Mali; Milk; Mastitis; Farming animal; Dairy cattle; Dairy product; Ox; Cow; Feeding; Raw milk; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Chemical composition; Artiodactyla; Ungulata
• ISSN: 0889-1575; 1096-0481
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jfca.2003.12.014

Milk from Malian Zebu cows was analysed during the dry and hot season (March–June) in order to assess its composition and the components variation according to the presence of subclinical mastitis and supplementary feeding. The Zebu cow milk ( n=30) was composed of 8 g/kg ash, 43 g/kg fat, 48 g/kg lactosemonohydrate, 37 g/kg proteins and 134 g/kg total solids. One-third of the cows tested positive to subclinical mastitis (white blood cell count >350,000/mL). Milk components were significantly affected by the somatic cell count (decrease of lactosemonohydrate, increase of fat and total solids P<0.01). Supplementation of the diet of Zebu cows with low quantity of pasture straw significantly and positively affected milk composition. The fatty acids were composed of a high proportion of polyunsaturated, long-chain fatty acids (oleic acid). This indicates that Zebu cows at this period of the year mobilize body fat for milk production because of the energy deficit in their diet. Lack of supplementary feeding of the Zebu cows and subclinical mastitis appeared to be main constraints in the extensive livestock system in Mali.