Abstract
Abstract. This study aimed to characterize milk coagulation properties (rennet coagulation time, curd-firming time and curd firmness 30 min after rennet addition to milk) and major mineral contents (Ca, Mg, P, K and Na) in Pinzgauer dual-purpose cattle breed. The edited dataset consisted of 7763 milk observations from 851 cows reared in 60 herds in the Alpine area of Bolzano province (Italy). Data were analysed through a linear mixed model which included stage of lactation, parity and their interaction as fixed effects, and cow and herd test date as random effects. Rennet coagulation time, curd-firming time and curd firmness 30 min after rennet addition to milk averaged 22.66 min, 5.53 min and 16.79 mm, respectively. The most abundant minerals were P (1495 mg kg−1) and Ca (1344 mg kg−1), and the least abundant Mg (141 mg kg−1). Compared to their older contemporaries, early-lactating younger animals yielded milk that was more favourable for cheese production (i.e. with shorter coagulation time and stronger curd firmness). Mineral contents were lower in milk of primiparous than multiparous cows, except for Na. Moreover, Ca, Mg, P and Na contents decreased from parturition to peak of lactation and increased thereafter, except for K, which exhibited an opposite trend. Our results showed that Pinzgauer breed produced milk with better coagulation properties and mineral content, from a technological point of view, in first than later parities and in early than late lactation. The characterization of milk coagulation properties and mineral content in autochthonous breeds is important to increase their value and marketability of their products.
Highlights
Autochthonous breeds are important for the conservation of animal genetic resources, the adaptability to their native environment and the ability to exploit natural feeding resources such as grazing (Petrera et al, 2016)
Among milk coagulation properties (MCPs), a30 was the trait with the greatest coefficient of variation (CV), in agreement with results from other authors (Toffanin et al, 2015; Varotto et al, 2015; Niero et al, 2016)
In Burlina cattle, another local breed reared in mountain areas, the greatest variability in the milk mineral fraction was observed for Na (Niero et al, 2016)
Summary
Autochthonous breeds are important for the conservation of animal genetic resources, the adaptability to their native environment and the ability to exploit natural feeding resources such as grazing (Petrera et al, 2016) They play an important role in the preservation of rural landscapes and in creating a link between their products and the area of origin (Sturaro et al, 2010). The dual-purpose (dairy and beef) Pinzgauer (PI) breed is a medium-sized local cattle originating from the native red Bavarian cattle It includes less than 6 % of Red Holstein genetics as a result of crossbreeding with Red Holstein in the past (Caroli et al, 2010), and is mainly reared in Austria (Salzburg, Tyrol, Carinthia, Styria), Italy (South Tyrol) and Germany (Bavaria). Full details on PI milk fat composition can be retrieved from Manuelian et al (2018)
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