Relationship between cellular and whey components in buffalo milk

Abstract

High somatic cell count (SCC) affects milk quality and cheesemaking, resulting in a reduction in cheese yield and quality. In dairy cows, quarter milk samples with > 200,000 cells/ml are considered to have subclinical mastitis, while there is much uncertainty on the corresponding levels of SCC in buffalo milk. In this study 30 lactating water buffaloes were selected and SCC, differential somatic cell counts and several whey components were tested in quarter milk samples to assess the relationship between inflammation markers and milk quality. Overall 236 quarter milk samples were considered. To evaluate the relationship between cellular markers (SCC, polymorphonuclear leucocytes, PMN, and N-Acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, NAGase) and other milk components, three classes were defined (low, medium and high). Analysis of milk yield showed a significant reduction in the high class of each of the three markers chosen. Overall, the highest class was characterized by significant changes in milk composition and a lower milk quality. The presence of an inflammatory status of the udder was frequent after the first trimester of lactation and in buffaloes with two or more parturitions. This study showed that significant changes in milk components can be observed when SCC are > 400,000 cells/ml, PMN are > 50% and NAGase is > 100 units. These thresholds could be suggested as levels to define udder health status in buffalo cows.

Variation in lactoferrin gene affects milk lactoferrin content and somatic cell count in murrah buffaloes

“…Our study indicated a high and significant (p<0.01) correlation (0.741) between SCC and lactoferrin. Various workers were in conformity with the above results (Piccinini et al 2006;Cheng et al 2008;Al-Majali et al 2007). Lactoferrin content was elevated in mastitis and there was a close relationship between SCC and Lactoferrin content (Chen et al 2004).…”

Evaluating the effect of storage conditions on milk microbiological quality and composition

“…All SCCs of the farm milk samples were below the EU legislation threshold (400 × 10 3 cells/mL), also suggesting that cow management on these farms was appropriate (Smith, 2002;Piccinini et al, 2006). The marginal difference in SCC between 96 h (89,000 cells/mL) and 0 h (98,000 cells/mL) is probably not relevant, and levels remained below the EU threshold during storage.…”

Perfil da contagem de células somáticas na infecção intramamária em búfalas na Região Nordeste do Brasil

“…Quando se considerou a média de CCS (400.000 cel/mL) estabelecida por Piccinini et al (2006) como ponto de corte para o leite de búfala, observou-se que 220 (54,9%) amostras negativas e 181 (45,1%) positivas ao exame microbiológico apresentaram média de CCS ≤400.000 cel/mL, respectivamente. Quando a média de CCS foi >400.000 cel/mL, observouse que 146 (60,8%) amostras foram positivas e 94 (39,2%) negativas no exame microbiológico.…”

“…Piccinini et al (2006) sugeriram a contagem de 400.000 células/mL como ponto de triagem para o leite bubalino. Entretanto, diversos autores adotaram o valor de 500.000 células/mL para selecionar os quartos com presença ou ausência do quadro subclínico, sem necessariamente utilizarem a confirmação microbiológica (Vianni et al 1990, Tuteja et al 2001, Singh et al 2002, Vivek et al 2002, Dhakal 2004, Singh et al 2004.…”