Cows milk is used in preparing different Ayurvedic medicines .i came across a reference in preparation of a medicine where only milk of a primipara (Given birth to a calf for the first time) cow is to be used.This certainly proves the indepth studies of the ancient scholars to observe such minute differences without any advanced technological aids.
Dear Jyoti Gavali... Yes, certainly our ancient scholars had in-depth knowledge. I would like to have this reference which u cited for this question.Please share.
Cows approaching their first calving (Primipara cow) are in a differing metabolic state to that experienced by multiparous cows; as they require nutrients for their own continued growth in addition to that of their developing calf.
During early lactation most dairy cows enter a period of negative energy balance (NEB), due to their inability to consume sufficient feed to meet the metabolic demands
Changes in the milk composition and constituents is tightly and concomitantly regulated by hormones. The concomitant control leads to strong positive correlations between the main milk constituents of triacylglycerol, lactose, and individual milk proteins. During the peripartal period, rapid hormonal changes occur, which result in larger variability of milk composition than in other periods of the lactation.
reports suggests that the main differences is ascribed due to Higher concentration of Insulin, Leptin, and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in Primipara cow than multiparous. Beta-Hydroxybutyrate and Non-esterified fatty acids released from lipid stores are either taken up by the udder to provide milk triglycerides or are oxidized in the liver as an alternative energy source. Hence their level in milk changes to meet the energy balance.
Thanx for your comprehensive answer.It is most certainly very helpful.
Physiologically, there is no big differences between primi and multiparous cows about milk composition. It's depend of the age and body development of the primiparous cows and an old one could give the same milk as the same old mutiparous cow with the same feeding. The only difference could come from the mammary gland development that is not total in primiparous cows and only at the beginning of lactation. In this case, the metabolic demand is lower in primiparous and it is probable that mobilization of fat reserve of animals will be lower in primiparous (less long form of fatty acids like C18 and more). For protein and lactose, there is no differences excepted in concentrations that are mainly correlated to quality of food ingested. Thus I agree with the answer of Laxmana and hormonal differences are connected to this metabolic status.
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