Comparison of fatty acid composition of milk from Holstein and local breed cows in two breeding systems

Abstract

Milk production and quality are influenced by many factors, including nutrition, management practices and breed. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of farming management system and breed on the milk yield, and fatty acid composition of the milk from 50 confinement-fed cows that were fed a total mixed ration, and 52 pasture-fed cows grazed together in rangeland. Individual milk samples (N = 102) were collected once in February. Milk from local breed was characterized by a significantly lower milk yield, and somatic cell count, and a higher protein content than the Holstein breed. The fatty acid composition was relatively the same in both breeds. The result showed that farming management system has no significant effect on the milk yield, somatic cell count, and fat contents, while there was a significant effect on protein content and fatty acid composition. The milk of Holstein cows from extensive system was characterized by more favorable fat fractions with significantly lower concentrations of C10:0, C12:0, C14:0, the sum of short and medium chain saturated fatty acids and n-6: n-3 ratio, and also by higher concentration of unsaturated fatty acids and the sum of n-3 than the milk of Holstein from intensive system.