Changes in the Content of Bioactive Substances in Sheep's Milk Depending on the Lambing Date

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate whether the season of lambing affects the content of bioactive compounds and nutritional value of sheep's milk during the lambs nursing period. Milk was sampled in two groups of Polish Mountain sheep, which lambed in December (G1) and in May (G2). In general, a higher contents of dry matter, protein, fat and lactose were found in milk of group G1. Analysis showed the higher (P<0.05) abundance of proline, lysine, isoleucine, aspartic acid, alanine, tyrosine, methionine and glutamic acid in group G2. Milk from group G2 contained more PUFA, especially CLA. In conclusion, the season of lambing affects the content of bioactive compounds and nutritional value of sheep’s milk during the nursing period