Selected Factors Determining the Content of Lactoferrin, Lysozyme and Immunoglobulins G in Bovine Milk

Abstract

According to the statement "prevention is better than cure" the consumers' concern about their health increases, which is reflected in the sales of products supporting the immune system. Such products are made of milk and colostrum, especially the immune proteins isolated from them. These proteins are increasingly used to enrich baby food, dietary medications or high-protein formulas recommended for convalescents and athletes. Furthermore, these proteins are used in pharmacology and cosmetology. They play a major role in the transmission of passive immunity to the offspring and protect the host mammary gland (Gapper et al., 2007; Stelwagen et al., 2009). This group of proteins include immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase and lysozyme. Increasingly, these milk components are used by humans for the prophylactic or therapeutic aims.

Concentration of lactoferrin and immunoglobulin G in cows’ milk in relation to health status of the udder, lactation and season

“…Similar results were also obtained by Cheng et al (2008) where a relationship between milk LF concentration and SCC and LF correlation with SCC were indicated (r=0.375, p<0.001). Krol et al (2012) calculated high correlation coefficients for LF r=0.65 and for IgG r=0.79 and these results confirmed the effect of SCC on LF and IgG. The effect of SCC on the content of IgG was reported also by other authors (Liu et al 2009).…”

“…Age of cows, usually referred to as the subsequent lactation, is one of the main physiological factors affecting the productivity and chemical composition of cow milk (Krol et al 2012). In the present study, the milk LF and IgG concentrations tended to be low in lactating cows of advanced age (p>0.05).…”

“…These results agree with Hagiwara et al (2003) where the milk LF concentration in 5-yr-old lactating cows was lower than that in 2-yr-old (p≤0.01) and 3-yr-old (p=0.05) lactating cows. On the other hand, Krol et al (2010Krol et al ( , 2012 reported reverse results: primiparous cows were shown to produce significantly less LF and IgG as compared to cows at the 2 nd to 4 th lactations (p≤0.05) and older (p≤0.01). The lowest level of LF and IgG was found in the 1 st lactation (0.89 ± 0.17 and 0.45 ± 0.16 mg/ml, respectively) and in subsequent lactations LF and IgG compounds increased gradually (Krol et al 2012).…”

“…SCC is a commonly recognized indicator of bovine udder health, milk quality and its technological usability (Krol et al 2012). As reported by Hillerton (1999), Hamann (2002) and Cheng et al (2008), milk containing less than 100,000 somatic cells per 1 ml originates from a healthy udder.…”

“…2008). According to Krol et al (2012) a bovine quarter producing milk with a SCC of over 200,000 cells/ml shows the symptoms of subclinical mastitis. In the present research, the concentration of LF and IgG in the cows' milk related to health status of udder quarters was analysed.…”