Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
JOURNAL OF FOOD COMPOSITION AND ANALYSIS, cilt.148, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
This study investigated the effects of foremilk quality, milk fatty acid composition, and selected miRNAs on milk fat levels in Holstein cattle. Foremilk samples from 61 Holstein cows were classified as low fat (LFG, n = 33, <= 1.5 %) or high fat (HFG, n = 28, >1.5 %). In addition to somatic cell count (SCC), milk quality parameters and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, the expressions levels of some miRNAs were quantified in milk samples. SCC and MDA levels were found to be higher in the HFG (P < 0.05). Regarding milk fatty acid composition, one short-chain fatty acid and three medium-chain fatty acids were significantly higher in the LFG than in the HFG (P < 0.05). This situation may have implications in milk technology for butter production. In addition, miR-124a, miR-130a, and miR-200a were significantly downregulated in HFG compared to LFG (P < 0.05). These findings suggest potential associations between these miRNAs and milk fat content. Further in vitro or in vivo functional studies would be required to clarify whether these miRNAs play a regulatory role in milk fat synthesis. Pathway analysis of the differentially expressed miRNAs indicated enrichment of common target genes involved in prolactin, insulin, and FoxO signaling pathways, with IGF1R, PIK3R2, and PTEN identified as central nodes. Collectively, these results provide preliminary insights into possible molecular links between miRNA expression and milk fat metabolism in Holstein cattle, offering a foundation for future research aimed at improving dairy quality and productivity.