Characterization of the major whey proteins from milk of Mediterranean water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

In this work, the whey protein fractions from 120 Mediterranean water buffalo individual milks were analysed by microchip electrophoresis (MCE), reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Validation procedures were carried out for both MCE and HPLC. The chromatographic analysis allowed the complete separation of the whey protein fractions, resulting in a well-defined peak structure; the adopted RP-HPLC and ESI-MS protocols provided identification of β-lactoglobulin (18,266 Da), α-lactoalbumin (14,236 Da) and serum albumin (66,397 Da). The calculated mean concentrations were 4.04 g/l, 2.45 g/l and 0.35 g/l, respectively.     

三重real-time PCR同步检测黄牛、水牛和牦牛成分

为准确快速地鉴定黄牛、水牛和牦牛的成分,研发具有这3 种牛特异性的引物和探针,并建立单重、双重和三重实时聚合酶链式反应（real-time polymerase chain reaction,real-time PCR）方法,同步检测上述3 种牛的成分。单重real-time PCR检测时,3 种牛的检测灵敏度均为0.025 ng/μL;双重real-time PCR检测时,两两组合的引物探针含量比例为1∶1时,黄牛的检测灵敏度降低至0.1 ng/μL,而水牛和牦牛仍为0.025 ng/μL;对三重real-time PCR检测体系进行优化,当黄牛、水牛和牦牛3 组引物探针的含量比例为3∶3∶2时,检测灵敏度最佳,黄牛和水牛的检测灵敏度可达到0.1 ng/μL,而牦牛的灵敏度仍可达到0.025 ng/μL。但上述双重和三重real-time PCR检测的灵敏度,是建立在3 种牛的含量比例为1∶1∶1的情况下,若3 种牛的比例差异较大,特别是黄牛和牦牛的含量比例差异较大时,如比例为9∶1时,含量低的成分会存在漏检。因此,在对整块肉的样品进行检测时,可采用三重real-time PCR的方法同步检测3 种牛的成分;若样品可能为上述3 种肉的为混合物,如肉糜、肉松等,则建议采用单重real-time PCR检测。     

Odor composition of preferred (buffalo and ox) and nonpreferred (waterbuck) hosts of some Savanna tsetse flies

A previous study on the feeding responses of tsetse flies, Glossina morsitans morsitans, implicated the existence of allomonal barriers, both volatile and nonvolatile, on the nonpreferred host, waterbuck, Kobus defassa. In the present study, electroantennogram-active compounds in odors from waterbuck were compared with those of two preferred hosts of tsetse flies, buffalo, Syncerus caffer, and ox, Bos indicus. Odors from the three bovids were trapped on activated charcoal and/or reverse-phase (octadecyl bonded) silica and analyzed with a gas chromatography-linked electroantennographic detector (GC-EAD) and, where possible, identified by using gas chromatography-linked mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and chromatographic comparisons with authentic samples. The GC-EAD profiles (with G. m. morsitans antennae) of the odors of the two preferred hosts were comparable, comprising medium-chain, saturated or unsaturated aldehydes and phenols, with buffalo emitting a few more EAG-active aldehydes. Waterbuck odor gave a richer profile, consisting of fewer aldehydes but more phenolic components and a series of 2-ketones (C₈–C₁₃) and -octalactone. This bovid also emits moderate amounts of C₅–C₉ straight-chain fatty acids, some of which were detected in buffalo and ox only in trace amounts. However, these did not elicit significant GC-EAD responses. Waterbuck profiles from the antennae of G. pallidipes showed broad similarity to those from G. m. morsitans, although the composition of aldehydes and ketones was somewhat different, indicating species-specific difference in the detection of host odors. Certain waterbuck-specific EAG-active components, particularly the 2-ketones and lactone, constitute a candidate allomonal blend in waterbuck odor.     

Genome-wide association studies to identify quantitative trait loci affecting milk production traits in water buffalo

Water buffalo is the second largest resource of milk supply around the world, and it is well known for its distinctive milk quality in terms of fat, protein, lactose, vitamin, and mineral contents. Understanding the genetic architecture of milk production traits is important for future improvement by the buffalo breeding industry. The advance of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) provides an opportunity to identify potential genetic variants affecting important economical traits. In the present study, GWAS was performed for 489 buffaloes with 1,424 lactation records using the 90K Affymetrix Buffalo SNP Array (Affymetrix/Thermo Fisher Scientific, Santa Clara, CA). Collectively, 4 candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in 2 genomic regions were found to associate with buffalo milk production traits. One region affecting milk fat and protein percentage was located on the equivalent of Bos taurus autosome (BTA)3, spanning 43.3 to 43.8 Mb, which harbored the most likely candidate genes MFSD14A, SLC35A3, and PALMD. The other region on the equivalent of BTA14 at 66.5 to 67.0 Mb contained candidate genes RGS22 and VPS13B and influenced buffalo total milk yield, fat yield, and protein yield. Interestingly, both of the regions were reported to have quantitative trait loci affecting milk performance in dairy cattle. Furthermore, we suggest that buffaloes with the C allele at AX-85148558 and AX-85073877 loci and the G allele at AX-85106096 locus can be selected to improve milk fat yield in this buffalo-breeding program. Meanwhile, the G allele at AX-85063131 locus can be used as the favorable allele for improving milk protein percentage. Genomic prediction showed that the reliability of genomic estimated breeding values (GEBV) of 6 milk production traits ranged from 0.06 to 0.22, and the correlation between estimated breeding values and GEBV ranged from 0.23 to 0.35. These findings provide useful information to understand the genetic basis of buffalo milk properties and may play a role in accelerating buffalo breeding programs using genomic approaches.     

水牛沙发革整饰工艺探讨

本文介绍了水牛沙发革整饰工段的工艺研究。通过有效的补伤,采用先进的机械设备,合理的整饰工艺及涂饰配方,掩饰了水牛原皮带来的各种伤残和不受欢迎的喇叭毛孔,使得水牛沙发革无论从外观或身骨、手感上都接近于黄牛沙发革的品质,从而提高了该品种的档次。     

冷鲜水牛肉保鲜技术

采用真空包装、热收缩膜包装、保鲜剂配合热收缩膜包装冷鲜水牛肉,在0～4℃条件贮藏.通过分析贮藏期间的嫩度、pH值、挥发性盐基氮、菌落总数、大肠菌群和感官评定等,研究包装方式对水牛肉保鲜效果的影响.结果表明:对照组、实验组1、2、3的货架期分别为9、15、18、27d.采用热收缩膜配合复合保鲜剂包装能有效延长保质期(27d),保鲜效果最好.     

Characterisation of cow and buffalo ghee using fluorescence spectroscopy

Fluorescence spectroscopy has been utilised to characterise ghee extracted from buffalo and cow milk. Using an excitation wavelength of 320 nm, emission spectra of buffalo and cow ghee; vitamins A, B₁₂, D, E, K; and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) were acquired by using spectrofluorometer. The bands at 390, 440, 480 and 525 nm were assigned to fat‐soluble vitamins, CLA, vitamin A and beta‐carotene. Moreover, spectra of vitamins and CLA confirmed their presence in both ghee types. The spectral differences were highlighted through principle component analysis that has been applied for the detection of adulteration of cow  milk  in buffalo ghee.     

Mode of action of yeast culture (YEA-SACC 1026) for stimulation of rumen fermentation in buffalo calves

The effect of daily supplementation of 5 g Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast culture (YC, YEA-SACC 1026), 30 g NaHCO₃, supernatant from 5 g YC (YCS), 5 g autoclaved YC (YCH) or 5 g γ-irradiated YC (YCR) to the diet of buffalo calves on rumen microbial populations and fermentation pattern was examined. Addition of 30 g NaHCO₃ increased the rumen pH to the level observed with YC group. The pH and the concentrations of total, total viable and cellulolytic bacteria and total volatile fatty acids (VFA) were significantly higher while that of lactic acid, hexose-unit oligosaccharides and NH₃-N were significantly lower in the rumen fluid of YC compared with the control group. The effect of NaHCO₃ was 39·5 and 59·5% in decreasing the concentrations of lactic acid and hexose-unit oligosaccharides, 48·1, 47·2 and 45·5% in increasing the numbers of total, total viable and cellulolytic bacteria, 50·0 and 58·1% in increasing the concentrations of total VFA and protein and 51·3% in decreasing the concentration of NH₃-N of YC. The corresponding values for YCR addition in the diet were 38·6, 45·7, 48·5, 44·4, 51·5, 39·1, 48·1 and 46·5%. The effect of YCS and YCH was only marginal, but conspicuous up to 2 h after feeding, in changing the above rumen variables when compared with the YC group. The results indicated that contribution of increase in pH in changing the rumen variables was approximately 50% of YC and almost all the stimulatory activity was associated with live yeast cells. Autoclaving of YC destroyed almost all and γ-irradiation of YC retained about 50% of stimulatory activity of YC. The effect of YC on rumen fermentation, which was maximum up to 2 to 4 h after feeding, decreased with time. © 1998 SCI.     

Detection of buffalo milk adulteration with cow milk by capillary electrophoresis analysis

The addition of cow milk during the production of buffalo mozzarella is a common fraud in dairy industries because of the lower price and greater availability of cow milk throughout the year. The aim of this study was to develop a new, rapid, and robust capillary electrophoresis method for detecting and quantifying cow milk in buffalo milk by exploiting cow α-lactalbumin as a marker of adulteration. In particular, a linear calibration curve was generated, using a training set of calibrators consisting of 7 series of 17 buffalo/bovine whey mixtures, obtained after casein precipitation, with increasing percentages of cow whey. The capillary electrophoresis method showed high linearity (R² = 0.968), repeatability [relative standard deviation (RSD) = 2.11, 3.02, 4.38, and 1.18%, respectively for 5, 10, 20, and 50% of buffalo/bovine whey mixtures], and intermediate precision (RSD = 2.18, 2.49, 5.09, and 3.19%, respectively, for 5, 10, 20, and 50% buffalo/bovine whey mixtures). Moreover, the minimum amount of detectable fraudulent cow milk was 1%, and the limit of quantification was 3.1%.     

Antimicrobial Effect of Malpighia Punicifolia and Extension of Water Buffalo Steak Shelf‐Life

In the present study, a multiple approach was used to characterize Malpighia punicifolia extract and to evaluate its inhibitory activity against several meat spoilage bacteria. First, volatile fraction, vitamins and phenolic compounds of the extract obtained by supercritical fluid extraction were determined by GC‐MS and HPLC. Then, the antimicrobial action of the extract was in vitro evaluated against Pseudomonas putida DSMZ 291^T, Pseudomonas fluorescens DSMZ 50009^T, Pseudomonas fragi DSMZ 3456^T, and Brochothrix thermosphacta DSMZ 20171^T by the agar well diffusion assay and by the agar dilution test. Based on the results of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against the assayed bacteria, 4 different concentrations of the extract were used in a challenge test on water buffalo steaks stored for 21 d at 4 °C. Results of chemical analyses showed that M. punicifolia extract is characterized by the presence of several compounds, already described for their antimicrobial (phenolic acids, flavonones, and furanes) and antioxidant (ascorbic acid) properties. The in vitro detection of antimicrobial activities highlighted that the extract, used at 8% concentration, was able to inhibit all the target bacteria. Moreover, very low MIC values (up to 0.025%) were detected. In situ tests, performed on water buffalo steaks treated with the extract in the concentration range 0.025% to 0.05%, showed a strong inhibition of both intentionally inoculated bacteria and naturally occurring microorganisms. Positive results, in terms of color and odor, were also observed during the entire storage of steaks preserved with the extract.