The composition of ewe's milk fat during early and late lactation

Abstract

SummaryThe composition of ewe's milk during the first 4 days of lactation and on the 100th day of lactation was investigated. The total fat content was highest (17· 9%) on the day of parturition but decreased rapidly to reach a level on the 2nd day after parturition that was similar to that observed on the 100th day of lactation (9·9 %).The concentration of octadecenoic acid, which was the major fatty acid of ewe's milk, was very much higher in early lactation than in late lactation. As the concentration of octadecenoic acid decreased the concentration of the shorter chain fatty acids (6:0−14:0) increased. The major octadecenoic acid was thecis-9 isomer. However, the proportion of thetrans-11 isomer increased from 5·5 % of the total octadecenoic acid concentration in early lactation to 11·9 % in late lactation. Although linoleic acid remained a minor component of the fatty acids of the milk during lactation, its concentration increased from less than 1 % during early lactation to 1·4 % by the 100th day of lactation.