Relationship between fat globule size and chemical and fatty acid composition of cow's milk in mid lactation

Abstract

The milk in 57 Italian Fresian cows in mid lactation was analysed in order to define the relationship between some qualitative milk parameters and the size of milk fat globules. The study focused on the morphometric evaluation of milk fat globules, chemical parameteres and fatty acid composition of the milk. The results show that a prevalence of milk fat globules with a diameter < 6um is positively correlated (P<0.01) with the percentage of dry matter and lipids, whereas the greater presence of globules with a diameter >6 um was associated (P<0.01) with greater milk yield nad a higher percentage of lactose, non-fat dry matter and ash............