Short communication: Detection of undeclared presence of bovine milk in buffalo yogurt

The authenticity of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) dairy products is a focal issue, considering the increasing demand for buffalo milk products. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the undeclared presence of bovine (Bos taurus) milk in buffalo yogurt, to understand which risk factors might make the product vulnerable to fraud. Real-time PCR assay showed the undeclared presence of bovine DNA in addition to buffalo DNA in 18 of 72 samples. Given the widespread lack of data on the presence of undeclared milk species in buffalo dairy products, the study provides a significant insight into the incidence of fraud in the buffalo dairy field. The data from this study could help improve the analysis of food safety risks along the buffalo milk supply chain and in the dairy processing industry, perceived as being highly vulnerable to food fraud, and prioritize target areas for food policy making to steer and enforce European food fraud regulations.     

Short communication: Phenotypic characterization of total antioxidant activity of buffalo,goat, and sheep milk

Free radicals are reactive and unstable waste molecules produced by cells, responsible of damages and alteration on DNA, proteins, and fat. The daily intake of antioxidant compounds, acting against free radicals and their detrimental effects, is essential for human health. Milk contains several compounds with antioxidant activity, and the sum of their reducing potential blocking free radicals development is defined as total antioxidant activity (TAA). This novel trait has been described in literature both in individual and bulk cow milk, but there are no reports from other dairy species. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate phenotypic variation of TAA in individual samples of buffalo (n = 105), goat (n = 112), and sheep (n = 198) milk. Total antioxidant activity was measured through a reference spectrophotometric method, and expressed as millimoles per liter of Trolox equivalents (TE). The greatest TAA was observed in sheep milk, averaging 7.78 mmol/L of TE and showing also the broadest phenotypic variation expressed as coefficient of variation (13.98%). Significantly lower TAA values were observed for buffalo (7.35 mmol/L of TE) and goat (6.80 mmol/L of TE) milk, with coefficients of variation of 8.18 and 8.47%, respectively. Total antioxidant activity exhibited weak correlations with milk yield and chemical composition. Phenotypic values of TAA presented in this study will be used to assess the ability of mid-infrared spectroscopy to predict this new trait and thus to collect data at the population level.     

不同生鲜水牛乳滴定酸度的分析

按GB 4789.18—2010《乳与乳制品检验》标准对云南省主要奶水牛养殖小区、合作社同一季节26户养殖户的228个水牛生乳及相同来源不同月份的655个水牛生乳的酸度进行滴定,同时进行酒精检测和掺碱试验,并对日粮组成、饲喂模式及胎次和泌乳天数进行普查。同一季节不同来源的228个水牛生乳滴定酸度在10~13°T的占83.8%;相同来源不同月份的655个水牛生乳样品的滴定酸度在10~13°T的占86.4%;总的883个生鲜水牛乳滴定酸度为10~13°T的占85.7%,大于14°T占10.6%,小于10°T仅占3.6%。     

Lycopene: A natural antioxidant for anhydrous buffalo milk fat

The potential of lycopene extract, to enhance the shelf life of anhydrous buffalo milk fat, at five levels, viz. 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 ppm, was evaluated. Lycopene was found significantly (P < 0.05) effective in preventing the development of oxidative rancidity. The overall preference score for samples containing 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 ppm of lycopene were 7.43, 7.60, 7.80, 7.96 and 7.90, respectively, and found to be significantly higher than the control (no lycopene, 6.79). The overall preference score with 200 ppm BHA was 7.94, which was not significantly different from ghee samples containing 120 and 150 ppm lycopene.     

Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Mature and Immature Oocytes of the Swamp Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Maternal protein components change markedly during mammalian oogenesis. Many of these proteins have yet to be characterized and verified. In this study, a proteomics approach was used to evaluate changes in proteins during oogenesis in the Swamp Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). Proteins from 500 immature oocytes and 500 in vitro matured oocytes were subjected to two-dimensional electrophoresis, and more than 400 spots were detected. Image analysis indicated that 17 proteins were differentially expressed between the two groups. Eight proteins were identified by mass spectrometry. In mature oocytes, three proteins were down-regulated: major vault protein (MVP), N-acetyllactosaminide β-1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyl-transferase (GCNT-2), and gem-associated protein (GEMIN)8, whereas five other proteins, heat shock protein (HSP)60, Ras-responsive element-binding protein 1 (RREB-1), heat shock cognate 71 kDa protein (HSC71), hemoglobin subunit α (HBA), and BMP-2-inducible protein kinase (BMP-2K), were up-regulated. The expression profiles of HSP60 and GEMIN8 were further verified by Western blotting. The changes in HSP60 protein expression demonstrate the increasing need for mitochondrial protein importation to facilitate macromolecular assembly during oocyte maturation. The down-regulation of GEMIN8 production implies that RNA splicing is impaired in mature oocytes.     

水牛凉席革制造工艺的研究

水牛皮多用作水牛修面革和水牛底革,用水牛皮制造水牛凉席革国内尚属首次。本文研究了用水牛皮革制造凉席革的工艺,着重研究了以植为主的结合鞣法,以酪素为主的蛋白涂饰工艺,产品保持了天然皮革良好的卫生性能.经成革分析和产品试用,研究达到了预期的目的。本文还就水牛凉席革的理化及感观指标提出了建议。     

水牛奶研究开发进展

从水牛奶的理化特点出发,介绍了水牛奶所具有的优势,阐述了水牛奶的研究状况,并对水牛奶的开发提出了一些的建议.     

Effect of muscle-type, stage of maturity and level of nutrition on the quality of meat from male buffalo calves

The effect of stage of maturity (8, 12 and 16 months), level of nutrition (100, 115 and 130% of both energy and protein) and muscle type, on the quality of selected muscles viz. longissimus dorsi (LD), biceps femoris (BF), triceps brachii (TB) and semi tendinosus (ST) from male buffalo calves was evaluated. The LD muscle gave higher values for pH, acidity and glycogen contents while ST gave higher values for cook release volume (CRV) and Warner Bratzler shear force. The TB muscle had higher expressible juice content (EJC). The 16 month old calves gave significantly higher values for the various parameters as compared to 8 and 12 month ones except EJC and CRV. A significant increase (P 0.05) in pH, EJC and shear force values was observed with increase in level of nutrition. The shear force values which are an indicator of toughness/tenderness increased with the stage of maturity. The 8–12 month old male buffalo calves reared on 130% level of nutrition had the best fresh meat quality (P 0.05) indicated by the various parameters evaluated.