Abstract
Objective - To evaluate changes in the nutrient and protein composition of cat milk during lactation. Animals - 12 lactating domestic shorthair cats. Procedure - Milk samples collected on days 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, and 42 after parturition were analyzed for concentrations of nitrogen, nonprotein nitrogen, casein, whey proteins, amino acids, total lipids, lactose, citrate, minerals, and trace elements. Individual milk proteins (caseins and whey proteins) were analyzed by use of polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis. Results - True protein concentration ranged from 6.3 to 8.6% and was as high in mature milk as in colostrum Nonprotein nitrogen as a portion of total N was constant (approx 8%), as was the whey-to-casein ratio (approx 50:50). Total lipid concentration was high (9.3%) in colostrum, rapidly decreased, then increased to 9% in mature milk. Lactose concentration was constant at 4%. Milk calcium, iron, and copper concentrations increased markedly during lactation, and magnesium and zinc values remained constant. Colostrum and early milk had a low Ca-to-P ratio of 0.4:0.9. Although calcium concentration increased with time, phosphate concentration also increased so that the Ca-to-P ratio remained constant in mature milk at 1.0: 1.2. The major whey proteins had molecular weights of approximately 14,000, 19,000, 40,000 and 80,000. The 80,000 protein (possibly lactoferrin) decreased in concentration during lactation. Two major casein subunits of approximately 28,000 and 33,000 were found, and both increased during early lactation. Conclusions - Nutrient composition of cat milk and, thus, provision of nutrients to nursing kittens changes over time.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 370-375 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | American Journal of Veterinary Research |
| Volume | 58 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| State | Published - Apr 1997 |
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Changes in nutrient and protein composition of cat milk during lactation. / Adkins, Yuriko; Zicker, Steven C.; Lepine, Allan; Lönnerdal, Bo.
In: American Journal of Veterinary Research, Vol. 58, No. 4, 04.1997, p. 370-375.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Changes in nutrient and protein composition of cat milk during lactation
AU - Adkins, Yuriko
AU - Zicker, Steven C.
AU - Lepine, Allan
AU - Lönnerdal, Bo
PY - 1997/4
Y1 - 1997/4
N2 - Objective - To evaluate changes in the nutrient and protein composition of cat milk during lactation. Animals - 12 lactating domestic shorthair cats. Procedure - Milk samples collected on days 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, and 42 after parturition were analyzed for concentrations of nitrogen, nonprotein nitrogen, casein, whey proteins, amino acids, total lipids, lactose, citrate, minerals, and trace elements. Individual milk proteins (caseins and whey proteins) were analyzed by use of polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis. Results - True protein concentration ranged from 6.3 to 8.6% and was as high in mature milk as in colostrum Nonprotein nitrogen as a portion of total N was constant (approx 8%), as was the whey-to-casein ratio (approx 50:50). Total lipid concentration was high (9.3%) in colostrum, rapidly decreased, then increased to 9% in mature milk. Lactose concentration was constant at 4%. Milk calcium, iron, and copper concentrations increased markedly during lactation, and magnesium and zinc values remained constant. Colostrum and early milk had a low Ca-to-P ratio of 0.4:0.9. Although calcium concentration increased with time, phosphate concentration also increased so that the Ca-to-P ratio remained constant in mature milk at 1.0: 1.2. The major whey proteins had molecular weights of approximately 14,000, 19,000, 40,000 and 80,000. The 80,000 protein (possibly lactoferrin) decreased in concentration during lactation. Two major casein subunits of approximately 28,000 and 33,000 were found, and both increased during early lactation. Conclusions - Nutrient composition of cat milk and, thus, provision of nutrients to nursing kittens changes over time.
AB - Objective - To evaluate changes in the nutrient and protein composition of cat milk during lactation. Animals - 12 lactating domestic shorthair cats. Procedure - Milk samples collected on days 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, and 42 after parturition were analyzed for concentrations of nitrogen, nonprotein nitrogen, casein, whey proteins, amino acids, total lipids, lactose, citrate, minerals, and trace elements. Individual milk proteins (caseins and whey proteins) were analyzed by use of polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis. Results - True protein concentration ranged from 6.3 to 8.6% and was as high in mature milk as in colostrum Nonprotein nitrogen as a portion of total N was constant (approx 8%), as was the whey-to-casein ratio (approx 50:50). Total lipid concentration was high (9.3%) in colostrum, rapidly decreased, then increased to 9% in mature milk. Lactose concentration was constant at 4%. Milk calcium, iron, and copper concentrations increased markedly during lactation, and magnesium and zinc values remained constant. Colostrum and early milk had a low Ca-to-P ratio of 0.4:0.9. Although calcium concentration increased with time, phosphate concentration also increased so that the Ca-to-P ratio remained constant in mature milk at 1.0: 1.2. The major whey proteins had molecular weights of approximately 14,000, 19,000, 40,000 and 80,000. The 80,000 protein (possibly lactoferrin) decreased in concentration during lactation. Two major casein subunits of approximately 28,000 and 33,000 were found, and both increased during early lactation. Conclusions - Nutrient composition of cat milk and, thus, provision of nutrients to nursing kittens changes over time.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0031113182&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0031113182&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 9099381
AN - SCOPUS:0031113182
VL - 58
SP - 370
EP - 375
JO - American Journal of Veterinary Research
JF - American Journal of Veterinary Research
SN - 0002-9645
IS - 4
ER -