Distribution and Analysis of Milk Fat Globule and Crescent in Murrah Buffalo and Crossbred Cow

Abstract

India is the largest producer of buffalo milk in the world. Buffalo milk is rich in minerals like calcium and magnesium, containing 100 % more fat and less cholesterol than cow milk. Physio-chemical properties of dairy products depend upon the size and distribution of milk fat globules (MFG). Individual MFG from Murrah buffalo were analysed as a function of size and distribution and comparisons were made with MFG of crossbred (HF X Sahiwal) cows. Crescents associated with MFG could serve as a source of RNA of mammary epithelial cells and that would be a non-invasive method of epithelial cell RNA. Acridine orange staining of fresh milk was visualized by light microscopy under red and green channel filters. MFG and MFG with crescents were analysed using imageJ image analysis software. The percentage of large sized MFG (area >20 µm2) was greater and the percentage of small sized MFG (area <10 µm2) was lower in buffalo milk than that of cow. The percentage of crescents was <1 % of total MFG in both the species. These results indicate that MFG in buffalo milk is larger than MFG of cow milk. RNA isolation from crescents of buffalo MFG and its suitability for microarray analysis remains to be determined.