Lactoferrin concentrations in milk from normal and subclinical mastitic cows

The concentrations of lactoferrin (Lf) in quarter milk from normal lactating cows and subclinical mastitic cows were measured to determine whether the Lf concentration in milk is influenced by the age of the cow, the stage of lactation, number of milk somatic cells and the presence of pathogens. Lf concentrations in 111 quarter milk samples from 28 normal lactating cows and 270 quarter milk samples from 198 subclinical mastitic cows were measured by means of a single radial immunodiffusion test. Lf concentrations (means ± standard deviations; logarithmic form) in normal cows and subclinical mastitic cows were 2.23 ± 0.39 and 2.70 ± 0.39, respectively. The mean milk Lf concentration (log) in subclinical mastitic cows was significantly (p