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Seasonal variation in the fatty acid composition of milk supplied to dairies in the mountain regions of Switzerland

Composition en acides gras du lait de montagne suisse. Variations saisonnières

  • Original Article
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Dairy Science & Technology

Abstract

The influence of typical feeds from five mountain regions of Switzerland (altitude of grass-based feed (GBF) during the summer and winter seasons: 1247 (± 465) m and 1136 (± 310) m, respectively) on the fatty acid (FA) composition of bovine milk fat was studied over one year (from May 2004 to April 2005). Compared with winter, summer milk had a significantly lower concentration of saturated FA (SFA) (−8.6%) and significantly higher contents of monounsaturated FA (MUFA) (+19.9%), polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) (+21.7%), conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) (+70.1%), and trans FA other than CLA (+56.7%). Summer and winter milk from mountains did not significantly differ with respect to the contents of branched, n-3 and n-6 FA. However, the content of the main n-3 FA (α-linolenic acid) was significantly higher in summer than in winter milk and its content was positively correlated with increasing percentages of GBF and altitude.

Abstract

5 ( 1247 ± 465 m 1136 ± 310 m) (2004 5 –2005 4) (−8.6%) (+19.9%) (+21.7%) (+70.1%) (+56.7%) n-3 n-6 n-3 (α-)

Résumé

L’influence d’un affouragement typique des régions de montagne suisses (cinq régions; altitude du fourrage à base d’herbe durant les saisons estivale et hivernale : 1247 (± 465) m et 1136 (± 310) m, respectivement) sur la composition en acides gras du lait de vache a été étudiée pendant une année (de mai 2004 à avril 2005). Comparée à l’hiver, la matière grasse du lait d’été avait des concentrations significativement plus basses en acides gras saturés (−8,6 %) et plus élevées en monoinsaturés (+19,9 %), polyinsaturés (+21,7 %), acides linoléiques conjugués (ALC) (+70,1 %) et en acides gras trans (+56,7 %, ALC non inclus). Les concentrations en acides gras ramifiés, n-3 et n-6 du lait d’été et d’hiver n’étaient pas significativement différentes. Cependant, la concentration de l’acide gras n-3 principal de la matière grasse du lait, l’acide α-linolénique, était significativement plus élevée dans les laits d’été que dans ceux d’hiver et était positivement corrélée avec le pourcentage de fourrage à base d’herbe et avec l’altitude.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agroscope Liebefeld-Posieux Research Station ALP, 3003, Berne, Switzerland

    Marius Collomb, Walter Bisig, Ueli Bütikofer & Robert Sieber

  2. Swiss College of Agriculture, University of Applied Sciences of Berne, 3052, Zollikofen, Switzerland

    Walter Bisig, Mirjam Bregy & Luzi Etter

Authors
  1. Marius Collomb
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  2. Walter Bisig
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  3. Ueli Bütikofer
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Correspondence to Marius Collomb.

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Collomb, M., Bisig, W., Bütikofer, U. et al. Seasonal variation in the fatty acid composition of milk supplied to dairies in the mountain regions of Switzerland. Dairy Sci. Technol. 88, 631–647 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1051/dst:2008029

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/dst:2008029

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