Abstract
Abstract. The present short communication presents a comparison between the milk fat composition of four old sheep breeds. All animals were fed the same diet and a milk sample was obtained at the same lactation day and analyzed for its major components, cholesterol concentration and a complete fatty acid profile. From all studied candidates, the Walachian breed (also when compared with modern breeds employed in the dairy industry) was determined to have the most suitable milk composition for human health.
Highlights
The role of dietary cholesterol and saturated fat in human health is presently one of the topics of high concern among scientific and health authorities
Milk and dairy products have a relatively low amount of these fats compared to other food groups, the frequency of their consumption places them among their principal dietary sources (RoyoBordonada et al, 2003; Astrup et al, 2011)
Sheep milk and dairy products are used in some regions as an alternative to cow milk products, even though their composition is much richer in fat than that of cattle (Raynal-Ljutovac et al, 2008)
Summary
The role of dietary cholesterol and saturated fat in human health is presently one of the topics of high concern among scientific and health authorities. It is well established that diet composition has a noticeable impact on animal performance and lipid profile in sheep milk, mainly through supplementation with plant (Luna et al, 2008; Bodas et al, 2010; Altenhofer et al, 2013) and fish oils (Toral et al, 2010). Animal breeding is another potential pathway to achieve this goal, but it is relatively unexplored in comparison to the abundant studies on feed supplementation. In this preliminary pioneer study, four old sheep breeds were tested as candidates for a healthier milk composition
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