Occurrence of milk proteins in the urine of cows during an extended milking interval

Abstract

SummaryImmunological methods have been used to test samples of urine from 5 cows for the presence of milk proteins. None could be detected when the cows were milked twice daily at the usual intervals, but during an extended milking interval α-lactalbumin was found in the urine of all 5 cows and β-lactoglobulin in the urine of 2 cows. The urine of one cow during and after a milking interval of 39 h contained 1·63 g α-lactalbumin, 1·12 g β-lactoglobulin and a small amount of casein. One of the factors affecting the transfer of these milk constituents from the udder to the urine appears to be their molecular weight.