• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.1369-1379
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• 2010

This study investigated purification and milk-clotting activity of the enzymes produced by Bacillus subtilis var, natto and Rhizopus oligosporus compared with that of commercial rennet. The clotting time, viscosity, tension and microstructure of the curd and electrophoretic patterns of milk proteins were determined. The milk-clotting activity/proteolytic activity ratios (MCA/PA ratio) of B. subtilis, R. oligosporus and commercial rennet were also compared. The results revealed that the curd formed by the commercial rennet had the highest viscosity and curd tension and the shortest clotting time among the three enzymes. However, curd produced by Rhizopus enzymes was ranked as second. From the MCA/PA ratio and electrophoretogram analyses it could be concluded that the enzyme produced by B. subtilis had the highest proteolytic activity, while the commercial rennet had the highest milk-clotting activity. Observations of microstructures of SEM showed that the three-dimensional network for curd formed by commercial rennet was denser, firmer and more smooth. The milk-clotting activity, specific activity, purification ratio and recovery of the purified enzymes produced by both the tested organisms were also determined with ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.1212-1217
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• 2003

Fifty-two Holstein cows with different phenotypes of $\kappa$-casein ($\kappa$-CN) and $\beta$-lactoglobulin ($\beta$-LG) were selected to provide weekly milk samples for heating at 30, 70, 75 and $80^{\circ}C$ for 2 min. Coagulating properties of heated milk samples measured as rennet clotting time, rate of curd firming and curd firmness at cutting were determined by a Formagraph. Milk samples were analysed for fat and casein. Least squares analyses of data, after adjustments were made for effect of milk casein and fat contents, indicated that although an increase in heating temperatures resulted in less desirable coagulating properties, the effect of milk types was inherent irrespective of heating temperatures. The shortest rennet clotting time (6.06 min), fastest rate of curd firming (5.61 min) and firmest curd (38.05 mm) were obtained from milk with the B variant for $\kappa$-CN and B variant for $\beta$ -LG when preheated at $30^{\circ}C$. It appears that milk bearing $\kappa$-CN B is more resistant to heat perturbation. All milk samples having the $\kappa$-casein AA (milk types AA/AA, AA/AB, AA/BB) did not have a measurable K20 value when preheated at $70^{\circ}C$. This effect was observed for $\kappa$-casein AB (milk types AB/AA, AB/AB, AB/BB) at $75^{\circ}C$ and $\kappa$-casein BB (milk types BB/AA, BB/AB, BB/BB) at $80^{\circ}C$.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.738-742
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• 2003

The monitoring was carried out for one year on 20 farms of Mediterranean buffalo situated in central Italy. The milk yield, the somatic cell count, the coagulating properties and some components were determined. The average value of somatic cells was $21.28n{\times}10^3/ml$. Milk production decreased when somatic cell numbers increased. The rennet clotting time increased significantly when somatic cells were higher than $300.00n{\times}10^3/ml$, the curd firming time was significantly higher when somatic cells were more than $1,000.00n{\times}10^3/ml$ and the curd firmness increased up to $200.00n{\times}10^3$/ml, then gradually decreased. Protein and casein decreased when somatic cells increased and the same trend was shown by casein/protein ratio. Both for these components and the coagulating properties the threshold limit of somatic cells to obtain better results was $200.00n{\times}10^3/ml$. The somatic cell number did not show a trend which was strictly influenced by the lactation stage, contrary to what happened in the other species.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.1319-1324
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• 2010

The objectives of this study were to compare the effectiveness of different indicators of mammary inflammation in buffalo and to evaluate the association of the indicators with buffalo milk yield, composition, and rennet coagulation properties. This study was carried out at four buffalo farms in central Italy using a total of 50 lactating buffalo. Milk from each buffalo was tested at the beginning, middle, and end of lactation. To evaluate the relationship between mastitis markers and milk components, three classes were defined for each of the following markers: total somatic cell count (TSCC), differential somatic cell count (DSCC), and bacteriological results The regression coefficient for the reference method and the alternative method of determining TSCC was 0.81, indicating that the method routinely used to analyze buffalo milk consistently underestimated actual TSCC. The milk samples positive for udder-specific bacteria also had higher TSCC values than the samples that were negative for bacteria ($872{\times}10^3$/ml vs. $191{\times}10^3$/ml). In samples that were positive for udder-specific bacteria, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) made up greater than 50% of the cells. Moreover, only 1% of the samples in the lowest TSCC class were positive for bacteria. The correlation between TSCC and PMN was stronger (0.70), and PMN values in buffalo milk increased significantly when the TSCC class changed from low (38%) to medium and high (56% and 64%). Milk yield was negatively related to TSCC. Significant changes in lactose (4.87%, 4.80% and 4.64%) and chloride content (0.650 mg/ml, 0.862 mg/ml and 0.882 mg/ml) were also observed with increasing TSCC values. Higher TSCC was associated with impaired rennet coagulation properties: the clotting time increased, while the curd firming time ($p{\leq}0.05$) and firmness decreased. We concluded that in buffalo as in dairy cows, TSCC is a valid indicator of udder inflammation; we also confirmed that a value of $ 200{\times}10^3 cells/ml should be used as the threshold value for early identification of an animal affected by subclinical mastitis. In addition to its association with significantly decreased milk yield, a TSCC value above this threshold value was associated with changes in milk composition and coagulating properties.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.1227-1232
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of concentrates containing different levels of a vitamin-trace elements premix on milk yield and composition of dairy cows. The trial, which lasted 14 weeks, was conducted from January to March and used 45 multiparous Brown cows in the early phase of lactation. Cows (n = 15 per treatment) were randomly allocated to three dietary treatments: the first group (control, C-0) was fed pelleted concentrate containing background vitamins and trace elements that supplied 1.0 times cows' daily requirements; the second group were fed the same concentrate, but containing 2.5 g/kg of vitamin and trace mineral premix per kg of concentrate (C-2.5); the third group were fed the same concentrate, but containing 5 g/kg of vitamin and trace mineral premix per kg of concentrate (C-5). The daily ration included ad libitum chopped oat hay, and the cows also had 8 h/d grazing on a ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) pasture. During the performance trial, cow milk yield was daily recorded and individual milk samples were analysed for milk composition and to determine milk renneting properties. Cows fed the intermediate premix level (C-2.5) in diet showed the highest fat-corrected milk production (p<0.05) compared to other groups. None of the milk quality parameters studied were influenced by dietary treatment, except for milk rheological parameters (rennet clotting time and curd firmness) that were positively improved in cows fed the C-2.5 diet (p<0.05). The findings from this study show that intermediate level of vitamin-trace elements premix in concentrate can be advantageously used in grazing dairy cows without negative effects on yield and quality of milk produced.