Comparative Analysis of Yak Milk and Holstein Cow Milk in Composition of Protein, Amino Acid and Fatty Acid

Shengbo Yu¹, Zhishen Mu¹, Xuena Dong², Zengli Gao², Guozhi Ji², Yu Liu^1, and Yun Chen^1,

¹Inner Mongolia Mengniu Dairy (Group) Co., Ltd.

²Inner Mongolia Enterprise Key Laboratory of Dairy Nutrition, Health & Safety

Cite this paper:
Shengbo Yu, Zhishen Mu, Xuena Dong, Zengli Gao, Guozhi Ji, Yu Liu and Yun Chen. Comparative Analysis of Yak Milk and Holstein Cow Milk in Composition of Protein, Amino Acid and Fatty Acid. Journal of Food and Nutrition Research. 2023; 11(11):672-677. doi: 10.12691/jfnr-11-11-2

Abstract

A total of 124 individual yak milk samples and 400 individual Holstein cow milk samples were collected from Tibet Autonomous Region and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. In order to better understand the difference between yak and Holstein cow milk. The composition of two milks, protein composition, β-casein gene sequence, amino acid composition, fatty acid composition and other parameters were analyzed and compared by using techniques such as capillary electrophoresis, gene sequence sequencing, amino acid analysis and gas chromatography. Yak milk has a higher total solids content than Holstein cow milk (18.99 g/100g and 12.44 g/100g). The casein composition of yak milk is suitable for the nutritional needs of infants. The proportion of β-Lactoglobulin content in yak milk whey protein is significantly higher than that in Holstein cow milk and all β-casein in yak milk is A2β-casein. Yak milk contains more amino acids and essential amino acids than Holstein cow milk, especially for phenylalanine (0.267 g/100g) and leucine (0.747 g/100g). Yak milk has higher n-3 and n-6 unsaturated fatty acids, especially for DHA (1.848 mg/100g) and EPA (3.542 mg/100g), which are not found in Holstein cow milk. So far, little attention has been paid to the role of yak milk. This paper will provide data to support subsequent studies.

Keywords:
yak milk A2β-casein DNA sequencing yak milk amino acid yak milk fatty acid

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	Guo, X., Long, R., Kreuzer, M., Ding, L., Shang, Z., Zhang, Y., Yang, Y., & Cui, G. (2014). Importance of Functional Ingredients in Yak Milk-Derived Food on Health of Tibetan Nomads Living Under High-Altitude Stress: A Review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 54(3), 292–302.
[2]	Li, H., Ma, Y., Dong, A., Wang, J., Li, Q., He, S., & Maubois, J.-L. (2010). Protein composition of yak milk. Dairy Science & Technology, 90(1), 111–117.
[3]	Li, H., Ma, Y., Li, Q., Wang, J., Cheng, J., Xue, J., & Shi, J. (2011). The Chemical Composition and Nitrogen Distribution of Chinese Yak (Maiwa) Milk. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 12(8), 4885–4895.
[4]	Truswell, A. S. (2005). The A2 milk case: A critical review. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 59(5), 623–631.
[5]	Markiewicz-Kęszycka, M., Czyżak-Runowska, G., Lipińska, P., & Wójtowski, J. (2013). Fatty Acid Profile of Milk—A Review. Bulletin of the Veterinary Institute in Pulawy, 57(2), 135–139.
[6]	Berthold, K., Eric, L., Carlo, A., Hansjosef, B., Cristina, C., Irene, C., Tamas, D., W, D. J., Cristophe, D., Stewart, F., Irene, H., Wolfgang, H., Alexandre, L., Guy, P., J, S. N., Mike, S., Hania, S., Peter, W., Ricardo, U., & null, null. (2008). The roles of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in pregnancy, lactation and infancy: Review of current knowledge and consensus recommendations. 36, 5–14.
[7]	Helland, I. B., Saugstad, O. D., Smith, L., Saarem, K., Solvoll, K., Ganes, T., & Drevon, C. A. (2010). Similar effects on infants of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids supplementation to pregnant and lactating women. 108, E82–E82.
[8]	Schennink, A., Stoop, W. M., Visker, M. H. P. W., Heck, J. M. L., Bovenhuis, H., Poel, J. J. van der, Valenberg, H. J. F. van, & Arendonk, J. A. M. van. (2007). DGAT1 underlies large genetic variation in milk-fat composition of dairy cows. 38, 467–473.
[9]	Recio, I., López-Fandiño, R., Olano, A., Olieman, C., & Ramos, M. (1996). Study of the Formation of Caseinomacropeptides in Stored Ultra-High-Temperature-Treated Milk by Capillary Electrophoresis. 44, 3845–3848.
[10]	Dai, R., Fang, Y., Zhao, W., Liu, S., Ding, J., Xu, K., Yang, L., He, C., Ding, F., & Meng, H. (2016). Identification of alleles and genotypes of beta-casein with DNA sequencing analysis in Chinese Holstein cow. Journal of Dairy Research, 83(3), 312–316.
[11]	Qiu, Q., Zhang, G., Ma, T., Qian, W., Wang, J., Ye, Z., Cao, C., Hu, Q., Kim, J., Larkin, D. M., Auvil, L., Capitanu, B., Ma, J., Lewin, H. A., Qian, X., Lang, Y., Zhou, R., Wang, L., Wang, K., … Liu, J. (2012). The yak genome and adaptation to life at high altitude. Nature Genetics, 44(8), 946–949.
[12]	Shao, B., Long, R., Ding, Y., Wang, J., Ding, L., & Wang, H. (2010). Morphological adaptations of yak (Bos grunniens) tongue to the foraging environment of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. 88, 2594–2603.
[13]	Wang, H., Long, R., Liang, J., Guo, X., Ding, L., & Shang, Z. (2011). Comparison of nitrogen metabolism in yak (Bos grunniens) and indigenous cattle (Bos taurus) on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. 24, 766.0-773.0.
[14]	Malacarne, M., Martuzzi, F., Summer, A., & Mariani, P. (2002). Protein and fat composition of mare’s milk: Some nutritional remarks with reference to human and cow’s milk. International Dairy Journal, 12(11), 869–877.
[15]	Wiener, G., Han, J., Long, R., & others. (2003). The yak. FAO Regional office for Asia and the Pacific.
[16]	Jr, H. M. F., Jimenez-Flores, R., Bleck, G. T., Brown, E. M., Butler, J. E., Creamer, L. K., Hicks, C. L., Hollar, C. M., Ng-Kwai-Hang, K. F., & Swaisgood, H. E. (2004). Nomenclature of the Proteins of Cows’ Milk—Sixth Revision. 87, 1641–1674.
[17]	olenski, k, cieslinska, anna m, suchocki, tomasz, szyda, joanna, & kaminski, s. (2012). Polymorphism in coding and regulatory sequences of beta-casein gene is associated with milk production traits in Holstein-Friesian cattle. 30, 5–12.
[18]	Visker, M. H. P. W., Dibbits, B. W., Kinders, S. M., Valenberg, H. J. F. van, Arendonk, J. A. M. van, & Bovenhuis, H. (2011). Association of bovine β-casein protein variant I with milk production and milk protein composition. 42, 212–218.
[19]	Pal, S., Woodford, K., Kukuljan, S., & Ho, S. (2015). Milk Intolerance, Beta-Casein and Lactose. Nutrients, 7(9), 7285–7297.
[20]	Elliott, R. B., Harris, D. P., Hill, J. P., Bibby, N. J., & Wasmuth, H. E. (1999). Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus and cow milk: Casein variant consumption. DIABETOLOGIA, 42, 292–296.
[21]	McLachlan, C. N. (2001). Beta-casein A1, ischaemic heart disease mortality, and other illnesses. 56, 262–272.
[22]	Thakur, N., Chauhan, G., Mishra, B. P., Mendiratta, S. K., Pattanaik, A. K., Singh, T. U., Karikalan, M., Meshram, S. K., & Garg, L. (2020). Comparative evaluation of feeding effects of A1 and A2 cow milk derived casein hydrolysates in diabetic model of rats. Journal of Functional Foods, 75, 104272.
[23]	Kinghorn, N. M., Norris, C. S., Paterson, G. R., & Otter, D. E. (1995). Comparison of capillary electrophoresis with traditional methods to analyse bovine whey proteins. Journal of Chromatography A, 700(1–2), 111–123.
[24]	Omar, A., Harbourne, N., & Oruna-Concha, M. J. (2016). Quantification of major camel milk proteins by capillary electrophoresis. International Dairy Journal, 58, 31–35.
[25]	Zhu, Z., Lu, J. J., & Liu, S. (2012). Protein separation by capillary gel electrophoresis: A review. 709, 21–31.
[26]	Fernstrom, J. D., & Fernstrom, M. H. (2007). Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, And Catecholamine Synthesis And Function In The Brain. 137, 1539S-1547S.
[27]	Flydal, M. I., & Martinez, A. (2013). Phenylalanine hydroxylase: Function, structure, and regulation. 65, 341–349.
[28]	Wit, J. de, Hong, W., Luo, L., & Ghosh, A. (2011). Role of leucine-rich repeat proteins in the development and function of neural circuits. 27, 697–729.
[29]	Bazinet, R. P., & Layé, S. (2014). Polyunsaturated fatty acids and their metabolites in brain function and disease. 15, 771.0-785.
[30]	Jovancevic, N., Dendorfer, A., Matzkies, M., Kovarova, M., Heckmann, J. C., Osterloh, M., Boehm, M., Weber, L., Nguemo, F., Semmler, J., Hescheler, J., Milting, H., Schleicher, E., Gelis, L., & Hatt, H. (2017). Medium-chain fatty acids modulate myocardial function via a cardiac odorant receptor. 112, 13-.
[31]	Connor, W. E. (2018). Importance of nϪ3 fatty acids in health and disease1–3. 5.
[32]	Berquin, I. M., Min, Y., Wu, R., Wu, J., Perry, D., Cline, J. M., Thomas, M. J., Thornburg, T., Kulik, G., Smith, A., Edwards, I. J., D’Agostino, R., Zhang, H., Wu, H., Kang, J. X., & Chen, Y. Q. (2007). Modulation of prostate cancer genetic risk by omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. 117, 1866–1875.
[33]	Boberg, M., Vessby, B., & Selinus, I. (2009). Effects of dietary supplementation with n-6 and n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids on serum lipoproteins and platelet function in hypertriglyceridaemic patients. 220, 153–160.
[34]	Schmitz, G., & Ecker, J. (2008). The opposing effects of n−3 and n−6 fatty acids. 47, 147–155.