Selected factors determining the content of lactoferrin in cows milk

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between lactoferrin (LF) and udder health, stage and number of lactations and seasons. Materials and methods. In total, 360 milk samples (MS) were collected individually from 30 normal lactating dairy cows. MS from indivisual quarters were collected once during the spring, summer and autumn. Microbiological examination for identification of pathogenic microorganisms was made as soon as the MS were delivered to the accredited central milk testing laboratory. For determination of somatic cell count (SCC) MS were analysed with the flow cytometric analysis method using a Somascope cell counter (Foss, 3400 Hillerød, Denmark). ELISA used to determine LF concentration in cow milk (Biopanda Reagents, UK). The concentration of LF in quarter MS was assayed using ready kits, following the procedure recommended by the manufacturer. The health status of the udder quarters was assessed according to microbiological analysis (MBA) and SCC in milk. The quarters with the presence of mastitis caused by environmental microorganisms (n=13), or subclinical mastitis (n=16) where classified as diseased quarters. Based on the milk SCC, the data were allocated into four groups: group I - up to 100 thou/mL (n=76; group II - from 101 to 200 thou/mL (n=15); [...].