Seasonal Variation on the Fatty Acids Profile, Thrombogenic and Athrogenic Indices of Raw Milk Samples from Cow and Sheep Breeds from Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was aimed to compare the fatty acids profile, thrombogenic and atherogenic health indices of the raw milk from local cow and sheep breeds raised among Fulani herdsmen managed under semi-intensive husbandry system in Challawa industrial area within Kano metropolitan of Kano State, North West Nigeria. Fatty acids were derivatized following the Official Methods of the American Oil Chemists’ Society with modifications. Raw milk of cow breeds contained higher percentage composition of C_14:0 and C_16:0, while raw milk from sheep breed contained higher percentage composition of C_4:0, C_18:0, and C_18:3. The percentage compositions were highest during rainy season (RS) in comparison to dry season (DS) in all the breeds. Raw milk of cow breeds showed that C_14:0, C_16:0 and C_18:3 were significantly highest in Red Bororo cow (RBC) and lowest in White Fulani cow (WFC). However, C_4:0, C_6:0, C_10:0, C_12:0, C_18:0, C_18:1 and C_18:2 were significantly highest in WFC and lowest in sokoto Gudali cow (SGC). Total saturated fatty acid (TSFA) was highest during RS (62.70 – 66.83%) and lowest during DS (59.59 – 63.55%). Result of the analysis of the percentage fatty acids composition of the raw milk of sheep breeds showed that C_4:0, C_6:0, C_8:0, C_10:0, C_12:0, C_18:0, C_18:1, C_18:2, and C_18:3 were significantly (P < 0.05) highest in Balami sheep (BS) and lowest in Yankasa sheep (YS). However, C_14:0 and C_16:0 were significantly (P < 0.05) highest in YS and lowest in US. The percentage TSFA of the raw milk ranged from 62.65 to 68.30% during RS and 59.93 to 64.18% during DS, in which the lowest percentage was recorded in the raw milk of Yankasa sheep (US), while highest in the raw milk of BS. Fatty acids sums in all the breeds decreased in the order of SFA > MUFA > PUFA. The ratio of n-6/n-3 of cow and sheep breeds were (1.31 – 2.19), (1.78 – 2.31) and (1.78 – 2.31), similarly the value of AI and TI for cow and sheep breeds in the present study were within the recommended level for health safety except for sheep breeds which is higher. Raw milk from WFC and BS had the highest percentage fatty acid composition and higher value of health indices which indicate that WFC and BS had higher risk of ‘lifestyle diseases’ such as coronary heart disease and cancer.

Keywords: breeds, fatty acid, thrombogenity, atherogenity