176
Variations in the Chemical Constants of the Butterfat
from Murrah buffaloes gave the highest R. M. value when compared to the butterfat from the three
breeds of cows studied, and among the cows, Shindhi gave the lowest R. M., whereas Gir and Thar-
parkar gave almost similar R. M. values.
Polenske values did not show any significant change throughout the lactation. Sindhi cows
produced ghee having a Polenske figure averaging 1.8, while it was 1.6 for Gir, 1.5 for Tharparkar
and 1.4 for Murrah buffaloes. Individual figures have always been well within the legal limits at
all times.
The iodine values also did not show any sudden change that could be attributed to season.
But there was a gradual increase in the iodine value in the case of all breeds as the lactation advanced.
In Sindhi cows the iodine value increased from 29.8 to 31.8, in Gir it increased fr
30.8 to. 32.7,
in Tharparkar 31.2 to 32.7 and in Murrah from 28.6 to 30.9. Another point made
from Table
III is that the Murrah buffaloes produced ghee with the lowest iodine values. Sindhi having a
little greater iodine value, Gir and Tharparkar being almost equal but greater than both Sindhi and
Murrah.
The B. R. reading did not show any significant change due to advance of lactation. The
average B. R. reading was 43.0 for Sindhi; 43.7 for Gir, 43.7 for Tharparkar and 42.5 for Murrah.
Probably due to the fairly uniform climatic conditions of Bangalore the experiment does not
throw any light on the possible changes in the analytical constants of ghee from different breeds
that may be brought about by climatic changes. But the effects of the advance of lactation on the
chemical constants of the ghee of the four breeds of animals under investigation are quite clearly
brought out by the present study. Of the four analytical constants studied R. M. decreases with
advance of lactation while iodine value increases at the same time. Polenske value and B. R. read-
ing do not seem to be affected by advance in lactation. Even R. M. and Iodine values that are affect-
ed do not fall outside their legal limits. Therefore, it is clear that at least in the case of ghee from
the four breeds studied, any abnorma y in the analytical constants cannot be attributed to advance
in lactation. Sudden and drastic changes in weather and feed may affect the composition of ghee
as reported by Plymen and Iyer [1921] but that requires further study under more favourable cir-
cumstances. Since the animals in the present investigation were receiving the same diet all through
the experimental period the changes observed in R. M. and iodine values have to be attributed only
to advance of lactation and not to any change in feed which also produces certain changes in the
composition of the butterfat according to Moghul et al [1945]. Again no breed variation is observed
in the effect of the advance of lactation on the composition of the butterfat, all the four breeds studied
being affected almost in a similar way.
SUMMARY
(1) Experiments were conducted to study the seasonal variation, if any, in the constants of the
butterfat of Sindhi, Gir and Tharparkar cows and Murrah buffaloes.
(2) The milk of three animals of each breed was collected separately once a week for the dura-
tion of one complete lactation and ghee made out of it and analysed for R. M., Polenske and Iodine
values and B. R. reading.
(3) No effect was observed on the composition of the ghee that could be attributed to change
in season.
(4) Advance in lactation is found to affect some of the chemical constants of ghee considerably
while some others remain unaffected. The R. M. value decreased and Iodine value increased with
the advance in lactation while Polenske value and B. R. reading remained unaffected throughout
the lactation.
(5) No breed variation is observed in the effect of advance of lactation on the chemical con-
stants of ghee all breeds behaving in a similar way.
(6) There is no significant difference in the analytical constants of the ghee from the four breeds
studied.