Research Information System
Turkish Journal of Biochemistry, vol.36, no.2, pp.149-153, 2011 (SCI-Expanded)
Objective: Aim of this study is to investigate milk Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Co, Se levels in the beginning, intermediate and final stages of lactation, to compare their levels throughout lactation and to find out critical values that do not overlap with the physiological state in Merinos and Ile de France x Akkaraman (G2 hybrid) sheep. Method: Thirty milk samples were collected at each the beginning, intermediate and final stages of lactation from two genotypes of sheep. Following the heating in microwave oven, 180 milk samples were analyzed for trace element levels with atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: Akkaraman genotyped sheep milk analysis revealed that Zn levels decreased at the end of lactation; whereas, Cu increased throughout lactation. Initially low milk Fe levels increased at intermediate of lactation, Se linearly decreased and Mn did not differ statistically though lactation. Initial Co level was very low but increased at the end of lactation. Merinos Cu levels increased linearly in lactation, Zn level statistically remained same between initial and intermediate but decreased at the end of lactation. The initial high levels of Fe decreased at the intermediate but increased again at the end of lactation. Se levels were very high initially and decreased linearly during lactation. Mn level statistically remained same through lactation, the initial low levels of Co was increased at the intermediate and remained same throughout the end of lactation. Conclusion: Except the initial Se levels, levels of other trace elements in milk during lactation was appropriate for human and animal health in both of the stocks. © 2011 TurkJBiochem.com.