Comparative Studies on Nutritive Quality Parameters of Milk in Disparate Cattle Breeds

Abstract

The present study aimed to compare the nutritive quality of milk from Holstein Friesian (HF) crossbred, Jersey crossbred, and Tharparkar cattle. Milk quality and production are complex traits governed by the interaction of genetic potential, nutritional management, environmental conditions, and husbandry practices. The study was conducted over 45 days at the South Farm of Vanavarayar Institute of Agriculture (VIA) in the Pollachi region. Milk samples were analysed for fat percentage and solids-not-fat (SNF). The results showed that SNF content did not differ significantly among the three breeds. Jersey crossbred cattle recorded the highest average SNF (7.71%), followed by Tharparkar (7.62%) and HF crossbred cattle (7.51%); however, these differences were statistically non-significant (p > 0.05). In contrast, milk fat percentage varied significantly among breeds. Tharparkar cattle produced milk with the highest fat content, Jersey crossbred cattle had intermediate fat content, and HF crossbred cattle had the lowest fat content in this region. Tukey's post hoc analysis confirmed that all pairwise comparisons were statistically significant, indicating that breed has a strong influence on milk fat percentage. The superior fat content observed in the indigenous Tharparkar breed highlights its genetic potential for producing milk with enhanced compositional quality, whereas the comparatively lower fat percentage in HF crossbreds reflects the breed's selection for higher milk volume rather than milk solids.