Butter composition and texture from cows with different milk fatty acid compositions fed fish oil or roasted soybeans.

Changing the milk fatty acid composition can improve the nutritional and physical properties of dairy products and their acceptability to consumers. A more healthful milk fatty acid composition can be achieved by altering the cow's diet, for example, by feeding supplemental fish oil (FO) or roasted soybeans (RSB), or by selecting cows with a more unsaturated milk fatty acid composition. We examined whether feeding supplemental FO or RSB to cows that had a more unsaturated milk fatty acid composition acted additively to produce butter with improved fatty acid composition and texture. Using a 3 x 3 Latin square design with 2 replications, we fed diets to multiparous Holstein cows (60 to 200 DIM) chosen for producing either more or less unsaturated milk fatty acid composition (n = 6 for each group) for three 3-wk periods. The control diet contained 3.7% crude fat and the 2 experimental diets contained, on a dry matter basis, 0.8% of additional lipids in the form of 0.9% of FO or 5% of RSB. The milk, collected in the third week of feeding, was used to make butter, which was analyzed for its fatty acid composition and physical properties. Dry matter intake, milk yield, and milk composition were not significantly affected by cow diet or by cow selection. Cows that produced a more unsaturated and healthful milk fat prior to the feeding study, according to a "health-promoting index" [HPI = (sum of % of unsaturated fatty acids)/ (%12:0 + 4 x %14:0 + %16:0)], maintained a higher HPI in their butter during the feeding study than did cows with a low HPI. Milk from cows fed supplemental FO or RSB yielded more unsaturated butters with a higher HPI. This butter also was softer when the cows were fed RSB. Feeding RSB to cows chosen for their high milk HPI yielded the most unsaturated butter with the highest HPI and softest texture. Thus, selecting cows with a more health-promoting milk fatty acid composition and feeding supplemental RSB can be used in combination to produce butter that has a consumer-friendly texture and a healthful fatty acid profile.

Texture of butter from cows with different milk fatty acid compositions.

Milk fatty acid composition and textural properties of butter are known to be affected by the cows' diets. We examined the phenotypic variation in milk fatty acid composition among cows fed the same diet to see if the variation was sufficient to produce butter with different textural properties. Ten cows were selected that tested higher (n = 5) or lower (n = 5) in their proportion of milk unsaturated fatty acids. Milk samples were collected a week after testing, and butter was prepared from the individual samples. Milk and butter samples were again analyzed for fatty acid composition. Butter at 5 degrees C was evaluated by a sensory panel for spreadability and by a texture analyzer at both 5 and 23 degrees C for hardness and adhesiveness. Milk and butter samples from cows with a more unsaturated milk fatty acid composition had a lower atherogenic index, and the butter samples were more spreadable, softer, and less adhesive. Thus, phenotypic variation in milk fatty acid composition among cows fed the same diet is sufficient to produce butter with different textural properties.

Stereospecific analysis of soybean triacylglycerols.

Thirty soybean germplasm lines representing a wide distribution of fatty acid compositions were analyzed stereospecifically by using a chiral column to resolve the sn-1 and sn-3 positions of glycerol. The amounts of each acyl group on each of the sn positions were plotted vs. the amount of that acyl group in the triacylglycerols (TAG), and the plots were fitted by linear regression. The deviation of individual data points from the linear regressions was much greater than observed in previous studies. This could be attributed to the inclusion of a number of germplasm lines with elevated or reduced percentages of saturates. The stereospecific distributions could not be fit with previously suggested mathematical models because the plots had intercepts that were not allowed by the models. Statistical tests of the analytical procedure indicated that slight oxidation of or bias against the polyunsaturates had occurred and that the Grignard deacylation method gave slightly less representative analyses of the sn-2 position than pancreatic lipase deacylation on these TAG.

In vivo studies of the biosynthesis of vernolic acid in the seed of Vernonia galamensis.

In vivo radiotracer experiments using [1-(14C)]acetate as the precursor were conducted to investigate the biosynthesis of vernolic acid (12, 13-epoxy-cis-9-octadecenoic acid) in the seeds of Vernonia galamensis. The acetate precursor radioactively labeled vernolate in phosphatidylcholine (PC), diacylglycerol, and triacylglycerol. Time-course kinetics of the incorporation of the radioactive tracer indicated that vernolate is synthesized while the acyl moiety is esterified to PC. Pulse-chase experiments provided additional supporting evidence that vernolate is synthesized while esterified to PC. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that linoleoyl PC is the precursor of vernoleoyl-PC. Subsequently, vernolate is quickly moved from the PC pool to the triacylglycerol pool, where it accumulates.

In Vivo Studies of the Biosynthesis of [alpha]-Eleostearic Acid in the Seed of Momordica charantia L.

In vivo radiotracer experiments using 14C-labeled acetate, oleate, linoleate, and linolenate were conducted to investigate the biosynthesis of [alpha]-eleostearic acid in the seeds of Momordica charantia. With the exception of [14C]linolenate, all of these precursors radioactively labeled [alpha]-eleostearate. Kinetics of the time course of metabolism of the radioactive precursors indicate that linoleate is the acyl precursor of [alpha]-eleostearate and that its conversion to [alpha]-eleostearate occurs while the acyl moiety is esterified to PC. Pulse-chase experiments with 14C-labeled acetate or linoleate provided additional corroborative evidence that linoleoyl PC is the precursor of [alpha]-eleostearoyl PC.

Stereospecific analysis of triglycerides of Glycine max, Glycine soya, Avena sativa and Avena sterilis strains.

A rapid method for the stereospecific analysis of triglycerides based on enzymatic hydrolysis on thin layer plates was applied to a number of Glycine max, Glycine soya, Avena sativa and Avena sterilis strains. The percentage of each fatty acid on the sn-1-, sn-2- and sn-3-positions was linearly related to the total percentage of the fatty acid in the triglyceride. Large deviations from the common triglyceride pattern were not found.

Ultrastructures of Bacteriophages Active Against Streptococcus thermophilus , Lactobacillus bulgaricus , Lactobacillus lactis and Lactobacillus helveticus 1.

Several strains of phages active against Streptococcus thermophilus and species of Lactobacillus were examined with an electron microscope after negative staining with phospho-tungstic acid or uranyl acetate. S. thermophilus bacteriophage exhibited exceptionally long tails (polytails). The width and structure of the polytail was the same as a normal phage tail, 10 nm, but was 2 to 4 times longer, 480-960 nm. Preparations revealed extensive adsorption of S. thermophilus bacteriophage to broken bacterial cell walls. One strain of S. thermophilus phage had a spherical structure at the posterior end of its tail. The bacteriophages of Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Lactobacillus helveticus had a distinct contractile tail sheath, whereas Lactobacillus lactis phage did not.

Simplified, Rapid Method to Measure Diameter of Bacteriophage Plaques 1.

A procedure is described for accurately determining the diameter of bacteriophage plaques down to .05 mm in diameter.