Seasonal and Feeding System Effects on Qualitative Parameters of Bovine Milk Produced in the Abruzzo Region (Italy)

Marco Florio, Claudia Giannone, Andrea Ianni, Francesca Bennato, Lisa Grotta and Giuseppe Martino
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Marco Florio: Faculty of BioScience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
Claudia Giannone: Faculty of BioScience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
Andrea Ianni: Faculty of BioScience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
Francesca Bennato: Faculty of BioScience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
Lisa Grotta: Faculty of BioScience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy
Giuseppe Martino: Faculty of BioScience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy

Agriculture, 2022, vol. 12, issue 7, 1-11

Abstract: The aim of this study was to examine variations in cow milk composition as a function of breeding system and seasonality. This study was carried out in 16 dairy farms located in the Abruzzo region (Central Italy), equally distributed between farms that adopt grazing in the spring and summer months, and farms where the intensive system is exploited. Milk was sampled in all seasons in each of the farms involved and was analyzed with particular attention given to the quality of the lipid and protein fractions. A lower concentration of saturated fatty acids and an increase in rumenic, vaccenic and oleic acids were registered for milk samples coming from outdoor grazing, in which was also observed the greatest presence of α and β caseins. The opposite result was instead observed for κ casein, which showed the highest values from intensive farming. Evaluations also focused on retinol, which significantly increased in concentration during summer in both breeding systems. The present results suggest positive insights into the role of the outdoor breeding system in improving the main qualitative trait of bovine milk in warm seasons.

Keywords: dairy cow; casein; retinol; grazing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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