Lipid composition of milks from cows with experimentally induced mastitis

Changes in milk lipid composition were measured during the course of mastitis infections induced in cows by infusion of either Escherichia coli endotoxin or Streptococcus agalactiae into 2 quarters of the udder; untreated quarters were used as controls. Experiments were divided into 3 distinct phases: a pre infusion period during which several samples were collected before infusion; a post infusion period following infusion and corresponding to the occurrence of elevated cell counts in milk from infused quarters; a recovery period followed after a short pause and represented the return of the cell count in milk from infused quarters to the level in the corresponding controls. Milk total fatty acid composition was unaffected by the infusion. Free fatty acid (FFA) composition did, however, undergo some alteration. There was a significant increase in long-chain saturated acids in milk from infused quarters relative to the corresponding controls during the post infusion period. FFA concentration (mequiv./100 g fat) also increased significantly during this period although the net increase was only slight. Phospholipid and cholesterol concentrations were significantly higher post infusion in milk of infused quarters. The results suggest that changes in concentration and composition of those milk constituents synthesized and secreted by the mammary epithelium occur after secretion in the alveolar lumen and milk ducts.