Seasonal variations in the composition and thermal properties of New Zealand milk fat: I. Fatty-acid composition

Abstract

SummaryThe fatty-acid composition of 17 samples of New Zealand milk fat obtained throughout one dairy season is reported.The weight percentage of butyric (C4:0) acid was significantly correlated with that of caproic (C6:0) acid and that of caprylic (C8:0) acid. Percentages of C6:0and C8:0showed a highly significant correlation with each other and with weight percentages of capric (C10:0) and lauric (C12:0) acids.There was a highly significant negative correlation between palmitic (C16:0) and stearic (C18:0) acids and between C4:0and C16:0acids. Oleic (C18:1) acid showed significant negative correlations with C8:0, C10:0, C12:0, myristic (C14:0) and C16:0acids.