Cow milk composition and quality analysis

Work objective – to analyse the rates of cows‘ productivity and milk quality according to the seasonality. Tasks: 1. To analyse season‘s influence on milk quantity provided by the different breeds of cows. 2. To analyse season‘s influence on milk composition and quality provided by the different breeds of cows. The research was performed on the cows‘ milk productivity and composition at the X farm in the district of Kedainiai. There were used cows of 4 breeds (15 cows) during theresearch: Lithuanian black and white cattle, holstein, Danish black and white cattle and crossbred Lithuanian black and white cattle and holsteins. The cows were of the third lactation. Conclusions: Seasonality had an influence on the milk yield of the Lithuanian black and white cattle and holsteins – during the indoor period the cows of these breeds gave statistically greater average milk quantity per twenty-four hours, respectively – 2,47 and 7,29 litres. During the indoor period cow milk fat of the breeds of crossbred Lithuanian black and white cattle and holsteins (0.41 % per unit), Danish black and white cattle (0.42 % per unit) and Lithuanian black and white cattle (0.49 % per unit) was statistically greater (p < 0,05). Seasonality did not have an influence on the average quantity of protein and lactose – the average values of these parameters in all breeds‘ cow milk ranged slightly: an average protein quantity – from 3.43 to 3.73 %, an average lactose quantity – from 4.27 to 4.50%. Pasturage had increased significantly on the statistical basis the urea quantity in the cow milk of the breeds of holsteins (7,13 mg/100 ml), Lithuanian black and white cattle (8,7 mg/100 ml), crossbred Lithuanian black and white cattle and holsteins (9,39 mg/100 ml) and Danish black and white cattle (12,32 mg/100 ml). Seasonal influence on the number of somatic cells in various cow breed herds appeared differently: Danish black and white cattle and crossbred Lithuanian black and white cattle and holsteins – seasonal fluctuations were statisticaly insignificant, Lithuanian black and white cattle – lower during the indoor period (201,9 thousand./ml), in comparison with pasturage (283,2 thousand./ml), holsteins – higher during the indoor period (318,18 thousand./ml), in comparison with pasturage (247,4 thousand/ml)