Research Article

Comparison of the nutritional value and technological suitability of milk of Holstein-Friesian cows from Poland and imported from Sweden and Germany

Beata Kuczyńska, Kamila Puppel, Marcin Gołębiewski, Małgorzata Szewczuk

1. Acta Sci. Pol. Zootechnica, 12(3), 2013, 49‒60

Abstract. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the origin of Holstein-Friesian cows on the yield, concentration of protein fraction components and selected technological parameters of cow’s milk. The fifty Holstein-Friesian cows from Poland, Sweden and Germany were involved in the experiment. The analysis of milk, protein and fat yield showed advantage of cows from Poland over those imported from Sweden and Germany. On the other hand, the most advantageous protein/fat ratio was found in the milk of Swedish cows. The analysis of the selected technological parameters of milk including the country of origin of cows revealed that the milk from Polish cows was characterized by a higher content of casein, dry matter and solids-not-fat than imported cows. The highest concentration of β-lactoglobulin and bovine albumin serum was observed in the milk of Swedish cows, whereas the milk from Polish cows was characterized by the highest level of α-lactoalbumin, lactoferrin and lactoperoxidase. The results of this study show that only the introduction of animals with high genetic potential can bring financial benefits expected from the sale of raw milk. Origin of animals plays an important role in determining of whey protein fraction and technological usefulness of milk.

Keywords: cow milk, protein fraction, technological usefulness, Holstein-Friesian breed