title: Lactoferrin and citrate concentrations at drying-off and during early mammary involution of dairy cows.
abstract: Quarter milk samples were taken from 48 clinically healthy, pregnant Finnish Ayrshire and Friesian dairy cows at the last milking before drying-off, and 2 and 6 days later to determine the lactoferrin and citrate concentrations in the udder secretion. The mean lactoferrin concentration in the milk increased from 5.29 mg ml(-1) on the last day of drying-off process to 8.09 and 11.26 mg ml(-1), 2 and 6 days later, respectively. Citrate concentration decreased from 1.85 mg ml(-1) to 1.54 and 1.09 mg ml(-1), respectively. Median molar ratio (citrate to native-Lf) decreased from 153 to 86 and further to 44. Lf and citrate concentrations in milk varied greatly among cows. Sampling time had a statistically significant effect on lactoferrin and citrate concentrations in milk while the breed and the parity of the cows had no effect on either of these variables.
authors: Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, PO Box 57, FIN-00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. taina.kutila@helsinki.fi
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Kutila
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Pyörälä
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Kaartinen
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Isomäki
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Vahtola
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Myllykoski
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Saloniemi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D002417:Cattle; D002951:Citrates / Q000378:metabolism*; D003612:Dairying; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation / Q000378:metabolism*; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000378:metabolism*; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D002951:Citrates; D007781:Lactoferrin