Abstract
Seasonal variation of milk composition poses a challenge for maintaining dairy product quality. Multivariate statistical techniques were used here to identify seasonal patterns in mineral levels, fatty acid profiles and selected metabolites for New Zealand raw milk collected from 24 individual cows in early-season (November), mid-season (January/February) and late-season (March). Partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) showed clear seasonal differences in mineral and fatty acid profiles that may have been related to supplementary feeding, dilution effects (higher total solids in late-season milk) and the lactation cycle. Fatty acid profiles showed an inverse relationship between the C6–C12 fatty acids and the branched- or long-chain fatty acids, which was thought to be related to feeding of maize in mid- and late-season. Targeted metabolite analysis suggested elevated phosphatase activity in March, and this warrants further investigation as an indicator of metabolic changes related to declining milk quality at the end of the milking season.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
