Antioxidative activity and protein profile of skim milk of Gaddi goats and hill cattle of North West Himalayan region

This study was aimed at evaluation of antioxidative activity, protein profile, and vitamins content of milk of goats, local non- goats, hill cattle, and Jersey crossbred cattle. Total phenol, antioxidant activity measured as 2, 2-diphenyl- 1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging capacity, total protein, and vitamins were estimated in milk samples by spectrophotometric methods. Milk protein profiles were studied by sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Total phenol, antioxidant activity, and total protein were higher in indigenous hill cattle skim milk. Average protein content in raw skimmed milk was 1.33±0.01, 1.03±0.02, 0.76±0.05, and 0.81±0.01%, in indigenous hill cattle, Jersey crossbred cattle, non goat, and goat, respectively. Three proteins of 19.01, 22.08, and 32.96 kDa were observed in goat, but not in non goat skim milk. Furthermore, the above proteins were absent in cattle skim milk. Two proteins of 15.56 and 25.06 kDa were found in local hill and crossbred cattle skimmed milk, but were absent in goat skimmed milk. Vitamin C content was the lowest in goat milk and the highest in Jersey crossbred cattle milk. It is envisaged that bioactive metabolites in the milk of goats and hill cattle might offer anti-aging and beneficial health effects.