The Relationship Between Protein Fraction Contents and Immune Cells in Milk

Mastitis significantly impacts both the yield and quality of milk. The somatic cell count (SCC) and differential somatic cell count (DSCC), which are related to immune cells, are primary indicators for assessing mammary gland health. In this study, eight previously established mid-infrared spectroscopy models were utilized to predict the content of milk protein fractions (αs1-CN, β-CN, κ-CN, total CN, α-LA, β-LG, IgG, and LF) in milk samples from 21,388 lactating cows across 33 herds. Four linear mixed models were applied to analyze the secretion patterns of milk protein fractions by days in milk (DIM) and parity, their variations under different mastitis conditions, and their associations with the somatic cell score (SCS), DSCC, and immune cell counts (PMN + LYM score (PMN + LYMS) and MAC score (MACS)). The primary findings of the investigation comprised the following: (1) IgG was higher in early lactation, decreased with advancing lactation days, and slightly increased in late lactation, while seven other protein factions decreased from early to peak lactation and increased during mid-to-late lactation. Parity influenced all milk protein fractions except αs1-CN, with total CN, β-CN, and α-LA decreasing and κ-CN, β-LG, IgG, and LF increasing as parity increased (p < 0.05). (2) Mastitis significantly reduced the milk yield, fat percentage, protein percentage, and the contents of total CN, β-CN, κ-CN, and α-LA while increasing β-LG, IgG, and LF. (3) The SCS was negatively correlated with milk yield and α-LA but positively correlated with the fat percentage, protein percentage, κ-CN, β-LG, IgG, and LF. (4) When the DSCC increased to 50%, the milk yield decreased, while the milk protein percentage and κ-CN content significantly increased (p < 0.05). When the DSCC exceeded 50%, the fat percentage, protein percentage, total casein, αs1-CN, β-CN, κ-CN, β-LG, IgG, and LF decreased, while the α-LA content increased (p < 0.05). (5) When the PMN + LYMS increased, the milk yield and α-LA content rose, while the milk fat percentage, the milk protein percentage, and the contents of αs1-CN, β-CN, κ-CN, total CN, β-LG, IgG, and LF decreased (p < 0.05). Conversely, when the MACS increased, the milk yield and α-LA content declined, whereas the milk fat percentage, the milk protein percentage, and the contents of αs1-CN, β-CN, κ-CN, total CN, β-LG, IgG, and LF increased (p < 0.05). This study offers valuable insights into enhancing milk product quality, advancing the early diagnosis and mechanistic research of bovine mastitis, and the sustainable development of the dairy farming industry.