Preliminary Study on Mineral and Lipid Profile of Colostrum in Indigenous Kanni Aadu Goats
G. Rajesh
Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Tirunelveli-627 358, India.
B. Sakthisivapriya
Department of Animal Nutrition, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Tirunelveli-627 358, India.
T. Lakshmi Prasanth
Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Tirunelveli-627 358, India.
M. Boopathy Raja *
Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Tirunelveli-627 358, India.
R. Jayanthi
Department of Livestock Products Technology, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Tirunelveli-627 358, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Colostrum in goats is a nutrient- and bioactive-rich first secretion essential for neonatal survival, providing passive immunity, supporting growth, and influencing long-term metabolic programming. Its composition—especially minerals and lipids—varies with factors like breed and nutrition, highlighting the need for focused studies in indigenous breeds such as Kanni Aadu. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the mineral and lipid composition of colostrum in indigenous Kanni Aadu goats. A total of eleven colostrum samples were collected immediately after parturition and analysed for calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, triglycerides, and cholesterol using standard analytical procedures. The results indicated that calcium ranged from 6.51 to 11.22 mg/dL (10.14 ± 0.37), phosphorus from 47.07 to 290.02 mg/dL (219.47 ± 19.26), and magnesium from 2.46 to 8.07 mg/dL (6.74 ± 0.51). Triglyceride levels varied between 64 and 134 mg/dL (88.36 ± 5.54), while cholesterol ranged from 1 to 5 mg/dL (2.64 ± 0.45). The findings demonstrate that Kanni Aadu goat colostrum is a rich source of essential minerals and lipids required for neonatal growth and metabolic adaptation. This study provides baseline information on colostrum composition in Kanni aadu goats, which may be useful for improving neonatal management and exploring value-added applications.
Keywords: Neonatal growth, metabolic adaptation, Colostrum, Kanni Aadu Goats