Environmental factors affecting plasmin activity in milk

A total of 367 milk samples were collected from 43 individual Holstein cows during 1 yr. Samples were analyzed for plasmin activity, total casein, alpha s-casein (alpha s1-casein + alpha s2-casein), beta-casein, kappa-casein, and SCC. Least squares analyses showed that SCC in milk were positively related (r = .62) to plasmin activity. An increase of SCC from 100,000 to 1,300,000/ml was associated with a 2.3-fold increase in plasmin activity (100 vs. 230 x 10(-6) units/ml). Increased plasmin activity was associated with advancing stage of lactation and older cows after appropriate adjustments were made for the effects of milk yield and SCC. Milk samples obtained in fall and winter were higher, but not significantly, in plasmin activity. Plasmin activity was also associated with major casein components and milk pH. Correlations coefficients between plasmin and alpha s-casein, beta-casein, and pH were -.14, -.27, and .19.