Fat-soluble vitamin (A, D, E, and beta-carotene) contents from a Portuguese autochthonous cow breed-Minhota

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2012

Authors

Ramalho, HMM (Author) Other; Santos, J (Author) Other; Casal, S (Author) FFUP; Alves, MR (Author) Other; Oliveira, MBPP (Author) FFUP

Journal

Title: Journal of Dairy Science

Vol. 95

Pages: 5476-5484

ISSN: 0022-0302

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 13 Citations

Scopus - 15 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Agrarian Sciences > Animal and Dairy science

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-54H

DOI: 10.3168/jds.2010-3975

Abstract (EN): In Portugal, commercial milk is obtained almost entirely from cows of the Holstein breed. However, other breeds may also show dairy aptitude, and produce milk of good quality. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the breed factor in the vitamin contents of milks from Holstein and the autochthonous Portuguese breed Minhota, as well as possible variations due to season. Milk samples were collected from 15 cows of each breed. Milk from Minhota cows showed higher contents of retinol, retinyl palmitate, alpha-tocopherol, and beta-carotene. No differences were verified between breeds regarding vitamin D-3 content, but Holstein cows presented higher amounts of provitamin D-3. Seasonal variations were not observed for milk samples from Holsteins, and only a very small variation was observed for milk samples from Minhota cows, mainly in retinol, alpha-tocopherol, and provitamin D-3 levels. This study revealed that breed has a pronounced effect on milk fat-soluble vitamins, which is an important observation regarding future genetic selection plans. Also, the increased vitamin amounts found in milk from Minhota cows can be regarded as an important nutritional parameter that can potentiate the economical value of this breed.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9