EVALUATION OF PHYSICO-CHEMICAL, NUTRITIONAL AND BIO-FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MILK FROM VECHUR AND KASARGOD DWARF BREEDS OF CATTLE
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Date
2022-12-13
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VERGHESE KURIEN INSTITUTE OF DAIRY AND FOOD TECHNOLOGY MANNUTHY, THRISSUR, KERALA VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY
Abstract
Vechur and Kasargod Dwarf cattle are indigenous to the state of Kerala, India. Vechur cattle is registered as an indigenous breed as per National Bureau of Animal Genetics Resources (NBAGR) whereas Kasargod Dwarf is labelled as ‘non-descript’. Limited information is available on the compositional characteristics of milk from these cattle. In the present study, pooled milk samples of Vechur and Kasargod Dwarf cattle were collected for physicochemical, nutritional and bio-functional analysis. The gross compositional analysis of milk revealed that Vechur milk had higher concentration of total solids, fat and ash compared Kasargod Dwarf milk, but protein content was more in the latter. This observation was reflected in the titrable acidity values as well. The nutritional analysis of milk samples unveiled the fact that Kasargod Dwarf milk had higher concentration of Vitamin C, D and E content compared to Vechur cow milk, whereas Vitamin A concentration was higher for the latter. The Kasargod Dwarf milk was also shown to have lower cholesterol content (290.44±3.53) than Vechur cow milk (350.75±3.22). The bio-functional characteristics such as antioxidant activity, fatty acid profile and SDS-PAGE protein fractionation was also carried out. The antioxidant activity (percent radical scavenging activity) was observed to be 44.13 and 48.85% for Vechur and Kasargod Dwarf milk, respectively. The milk from Kasargod Dwarf cattle exhibited higher concentration of unsaturated fatty acids. The milk proteins were resolved using SDS-PAGE and the following fractions were identified: Lactoferrin (Lf) (76 kDa), immunoglobulin (Ig) (66 kDa), α-S1caseins (23 kDa), α-S2caseins (21 kDa), β-casein (24 kDa), β- lactoglobulin (18 kDa) and α-lactalbumin (14 kDa). The overall nutritional and bio-functional parameters revealed that Kasargod Dwarf milk has better characteristics than Vechur cow milk. However, to prove the worth of consuming and asserting the beneficial health effects of milk from indigenous breeds, a comprehensive clinical or animal study is required.