Profiling and distribution of minerals content in cow, buffalo and goat milk

Nine minerals (calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn)) have been estimated in milk of three different species namely, cow (Sahiwal and Tharparkar), buffalo (Murrah) and goat (Alpine x Beetle) of India. Among the species studied, buffalo milk had the highest Ca, P and Mg contents. Na content was found lowest in buffalo milk and K was found significantly higher in goat milk. K was the major mineral in cow and goat milk while Ca was major mineral in buffalo milk. Mineral distribution data indicated that colloidal minerals were highest in buffalo milk followed by goat and cow milk. Ca to P ratio was found maximum in buffalo milk (1.74) and was almost similar in milk (1.45-1.49) of other species studied. Our study indicated that 500 g of milk can meet more than 60% recommended daily allowances of Ca and P as recommended by Institute of Medicine, Washington (DC) and National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad.