Comparison of Total Antioxidant Capacity of Milk of Crossbred Holstein Friesian and Vechur Cattle during Different Lactation

Background: Milk is a rich source of vitamins, minerals, fats and high quality proteins. Milk proteins such as casein, lactoferrin and amino acids in milk like tyrosine, cysteine, tryptophan, lysine, etc. have antioxidant properties. The objective of this study was to compare the antioxidant level of milk of crossbred Holstein Friesian (CBHF) and Vechur cattle during different stages of lactation. Methods: Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was estimated by using ferric reducing antioxidant assay. Milk samples from six animals each of CBHF and Vechur cattle were collected separately at early lactation, mid lactation and late lactation period. Results: Milk samples from CBHF and Vechur cattle during the early stages of lactation had significantly higher total antioxidant capacity than milk samples from later stages of lactation. This could be because of the high fat content in the early phases. The total antioxidant content of Vechur milk was higher than that of CBHF milk throughout lactation. The milk of the Vechur cow contains higher beta casein A2 than A1. No significant difference in the TAC values noticed between milk of mid and late lactation in both CBHF and Vechur cattle. The high antioxidant capacity of milk from Vechur cattle suggests that it has a great therapeutic potential. Different animal milk and milk products with antioxidant defense systems can be considered to have health-beneficial effects against free radical damage.