Interrelationships between somatic cell count and biochemical changes in egyptian camel milk

Abstract EN

The variations in chemical composition of dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) reared in Marsa Matroh governorate during lactation were investigated.

Colostrum and milk samples from 10 she camels in their first season of lactation were collected periodically from parturition until 90 day postpartum (PP).

Samples were analysed for somatic cell count (SCC), fat, protein, casein, lactose, IgG1 and minerals.

Large variations occurred in biochemical properties throughout the study period.

Within whole period, the concentration of casein decreased by 60 %, IgG1 by 94 %, and lactose increased by 34 %.

The average contents of gross composition were 14.23 % protein, 4.44 % lactose, 0.27 % fat, 0.77 % ash, and 20.16 % total solids in colostrum at 12 hour PP, and the respective mean values were 3.55, 4.24, 5.65, 0.87, and 14.31 % for regular milk on 90th day.

A 10-fold increase was shown in fat content during the first 24 h, whereas a sharp decrease was shown during the first 24 h of lactation in protein, ash, and total solids contents.

Variation in lactose content was small (4.24 to 4.71 %) throughout the study period.

Total N, non-protein N, casein, and whey protein were found to be 2.23, 0.06, 0.86, and 1.31 g / 100 mL for the colostrum at 12 hour PP ; and 0.56, 0.04, 0.45, and 0.07 g / 100 mL for the milk at 90 day PP.

Percentages of caseins increased steadily, whereas whey proteins declined gradually until 3 month of lactation.

The levels of Ca, P, Na, K, and Cl were 222.58, 153.74, 65.0, 136.5, and 141.1 mg / 100 g, respectively, at 12 hour PP ; the values of the minerals were 154.57, 116.82, 72.0, 191.0, and 152.0 mg / 100 g, respectively, for the regular milk on 90 day.

Sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE and densitometry results demonstrated that dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) colostrum is rich in immunoglobulins, serum albumin, and 2 unknown fractions, which are reduced in amount (%) within 2 days of lactation.

It seems that there is lack of lactoglobulin in dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) milk, whereas casein and lacto-albumin start at a low level and increase gradually until they reach their regular levels in the milk.

The somatic cell count (SCC) of camel's milk was determined by the Fossomatic method and compared with biochemical compositions of the milk, The somatic cell count (SCC) ranged from 28.20 x 103 to 120.60 x 103 cells / ml with mean 68.87 x 103 cells/ml in the whole period.

The level of somatic cell count (SCC) ranged from 28.20 x 103 to 65.78 x 103 cells / ml with mean was 42.21 x 103 cells / ml in colostrum milk.

The colostrum milk samples (24 hours) had significantly (p < 0.01) lower than mean values for total SCC and negative correlation with total nitrogen (TN), whey protein nitrogen (WPN) and positively with NPN and casein levels.

The level of somatic cell count (SCC) of regular ranged from 76.11 x 103 to 120.60 x 103 cells / ml with mean was 97.53 x 103 cells / ml in regular milk from 5 to 90 days.

The regular milk samples (90 days) had significantly (p < 0.01) higher than mean values for total SCC.

There was a strong significant positive correlated with total nitrogen (TN), whey protein nitrogen (WPN) and casein and negatively correlated with NPN.