The content of hippuric acid in raw goat's and sheep's milk and the content of benzoic acid in model fermented milk drinks prepared using different cultures of bacteria of milk fermentation were determined. All fermented milk drinks contained benzoic acid in the range 5.0-78 mg kg-1. Higher quantity of benzoic acid in fermented sheep's milk drinks corresponded also to significantly higher quantity of hippuric acid in raw sheep's milk. No significant differences among used cultures of bacteria of dairy fermentation and the quantity of benzoic acid in fermented milk drinks were recorded. In addition, the quantity of benzoic acid in various commercial goat's and sheep's cheeses produced directly in farms was analyzed. The contents of benzoic acid in cheeses ranged from 5.1 to 90 mg kg-1. No significant difference in the quantity of benzoic acid from goat's and sheep's cheeses was found, whereas significant differences were registered in the quantity of benzoic acid in cheeses produced in individual farms.

Michlová T., Dragounová H., Horníčková Š., Hejtmánková A. (2015): Factors influencing the content of vitamins A and E in sheep and goat milk. Czech J. Food Sci., 33: 58-65.The content of lipophilic vitamins A and E was determined in samples of sheep and goat milk of different breeds coming from 9 farms in central, eastern, and southern Bohemia. Samples were collected throughout the period of lactation (from April to September). Vitamins A and E were determined by HPLC using DAD and FLD detectors. Vitamin A was determined in all samples but only α-tocopherol (out of various forms of vitamin E) was detected in all samples. The total average content of vitamins A and E in raw milk of all sheep breeds during lactation was 0.93 ± 0.07 and 2.93 ± 0.87 mg/kg, levels of these vitamins in goat milk were 0.79 ± 0.08 and 1.29 ± 0.35 mg/kg, respectively. The results showed a significantly medium and strong correlation between the content of vitamin A and E and the content of fat (R 2 = 0.57 and 0.75, respectively). The year did not have any statistically significant influence on the content of monitored vitamins. The content of both vitamins is dependent on the phase of lactation. The levels of vitamins A and E were significantly lower in the early phase and significantly higher in the late phase of lactation. The amount of monitored vitamins slightly decreased during pasteurisation. A strong decrease in the content of both vitamins was observed during the first two weeks after milk storage in a freezing box at the temperature of -20°C (about 11-55%).

The fortification of feed is known to be a useful tool to manipulate the nutritional value of insects. This study aimed to reveal the effect of carrot supplement duration on the basic nutrients, fatty acid profile, carotenes, and tocopherols. Jamaican crickets (Gryllus assimilis) were provided with chicken feed supplemented with carrots ad libitum for 0, 3, 7, 14 and 60 days prior to harvest. The supplementation increased the levels of α-carotene and β-carotene in the insects. The content of carotenoids did not significantly differ between groups fed carrot for 14 (α-carotene = 13.7 μg/g DM; β-carotene = 34.6 μg/g DM) and 60 days (α-carotene = 15.2 μg/g DM; β-carotene = 37.2 μg/g DM), suggesting that the capacity of the insects to store carotenes is limited. Some carotenoids (α-carotene = 5.4 μg/g DM; β-carotene = 12.8 μg/g DM) were found in crickets given carrot supplementation for only 3 days prior to harvest. Carrot supplementation affected the fatty acid profile of the insects. Crickets fed carrot for 60 and 14 days contained lower levels of SFA (32.00 and 32.74% of total fatty acids respectively) and higher levels of PUFA (33.06 and 32.49% of total fatty acids respectively) in comparison with insects fed for 0, 3 or 7 days. No influence of carrot supplementation was observed in feed conversion, tocopherols and basic nutrients (proteins, lipids, ash). Conclusively, the paper showed some beneficial effects of carrot supplementation, when the highest levels of carotenoids were reached by 14 and 60 days of carrot provision. Therefore, the whole life supplementation seems to be not necessary to reach the increased content of carotenoids in crickets.

Over the past decade, the use of bovine colostrum and its bioactive components as the basis of functional food and dietary supplements for humans has substantially increased. However, for developing new products enriched with probiotics and bovine colostrum, the influence of colostrum composition on the growth promotion of bacteria still needs to be tested. Therefore, we decided to study the influence of bovine colostrum chemical and mineral composition as well as the content of bioactive compounds (immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase) on the growth of ten selected strains from genera Lactobacillus, Lacticaseibacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Enterococcus. After 24 h of fermentation, the growth was assessed based on lactic and acetic acids production evaluated using isotachophoresis, bacterial counts determined by the agar plate method, and change of pH. The production of acids and bacterial counts were significantly (P<0.05) different between selected genera. The change of bacterial counts was correlated with pH, but the correlation between growth and bovine colostrum composition was not proven. The highest growth and production of lactic acid was observed after the fermentation of bovine colostrum by the strains Enterococcus faecium CCDM 922A and CCDM 945.

In this Research Communication we evaluate the fatty acid (FA) profile of Wallachian sheep milk. The study was performed on 38 ewes in Beskydy Mountains. Samples were collected 4 times during the lactation, at monthly intervals. FA profile as well as groups of saturated, monounsaturated (MUFA), and polyunsaturated (PUFA) FAs were investigated. Considerable increase over the lactation was detected for lauric, myristic, myristoleic and palmitic acids, while stearic acid showed the opposed tendency. Variability, supported by significant differences among particular days of milk collection, was demonstrated for oleic acid; its highest distribution occurred at the beginning and at the end of the trial. The highest distribution of CLA was at the second sample day. Milk of Wallachian sheep naturally grazed at permanent pasture areas showed higher content of PUFA and MUFA in contrast with intensive or semi-intensive sheep breeds reported in the literature.

Eighteen winter wheat cultivars with different grain colour (purple-, blue-, yellow- and red-grained) and three spring tritordeum yellow-grained cultivars and breeding lines were assessed for grain selenium (Se) content from the crop season 2014/2015 on the experimental field Agrotest fyto, Ltd., Kroměříž (Czech Republic). Se content has shown to be genotype dependent, with the highest contents in control red-grained cv. Bohemia (0.235 mg/kg dry matter (DM)) and yellow-grained cv. Bona Vita (0.229 mg/kg DM), and breeding lines V2 10–16 (blue-grained), KM 53–14 (blue-grained) and V2 15–16 (yellow-grained) winter wheats. In new spring tritordeums, average Se content was comparable (0.039 mg/kg DM) with purple pericarp wheats (0.042 mg/kg DM); in wheats with blue aleurone and yellow endosperm it was higher (0.057 mg/kg DM and 0.069 mg/kg DM). Although in most cultivars the Se contents were not significantly different, statistically significant differences were determined between the cvs. Bohemia and Bona Vita with the highest Se content and breeding line V2 31–16 with the lowest Se content as well as between the cv. Bohemia and breeding line KM 178–14. Grain colour of wheat cultivars and breeding lines affected Se content, so possible wheat genetic resources for use in the breeding process can be assessed. Diversity in certain wheat accessions offers genetic potential for developing cultivars with better ability to accumulate beneficial Se micronutrient in grains.

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Simple SummaryMaternal milk represents a crucial source of nutrients provided to suckling lambs. We analyzed the properties of maternal milk relative to the live weight of suckling lambs, and confirmed positive impact of milk production, milk protein, and milk lactose on lambs growth intensity in general. Further analyses identified specific fatty acids contained in milk fat with positive effect to lambs live weight. Results highlighted important components of mother’s milk for optimizing lambs’ growth potential till their weaning.AbstractThis study determined effects of milk production, milk components, or fatty acids (FA) profile on live weight of suckling lambs till their weaning. Live weight (LW, kg) of 42 purebred Wallachian lambs (from 33 ewes) was recorded during four control days with approximately 30-day intervals during rearing. At the same time, their mothers were examined for milk production (kg), milk fat (g), proteins (g), lactose (g), and fatty acids (%) contents. Results investigated using linear regression analysis showed 5.93 kg (p < 0.05) increase of lambs LW corresponded with 1 kg of ewe’s daily milk production increase during the observed period. Similarly, significant 0.13 kg or 0.11 kg increases of lambs live weight corresponded with 1 g increase of milk protein or milk lactose at this time. Milk with higher prevalence of trans-palmitoleic acid, trans-vaccenic acid, cis-vaccenic acid, linolelaidic acid, linoleic acid, or conjugated linolenic acid (CLA) significantly improved lambs LW. Moreover, significantly positive Pearson partial correlation between LW and trans-vaccenic acid (r = 0.305) or CLA (r = 0.347) indicated on genetic correlation between these traits. Therefore, milk (natural or artificially supplied) with higher distribution of these specified FAs could improve lambs’ LW.