Distribution of hypercholesterolemic fatty acids and atherogenic index in the milk fat of dairy cows

Differences in proportion of hypercholesterolemic fatty acids (lauric, myristic and palmitic acid) from total fatty acids and in values of atherogenic index of milk fat were determined for the individual cows within a herd of 46 animals of Czech Pied (Fleckvieh) cattle bred under the same feeding and stabling conditions. Primary statistical characteristics (mean, relative standard deviation and range in %) were 3.52, 23.2 and 1.7-5.5 for lauric acid, 11.80, 15.2 and 7.0-14.9 for myristic acid and 27.71, 6.2 and 23.8-31.1 for palmitic acid. The respective values for atherogenic index were 2.10, 20.2 and 1.2-3.3. It may be concluded from this data and from the evaluation of the acids and of atherogenic index distributions that existing differences in milk fat composition of particular dairy cows could be used for the selection of milk for the production of healthier milk products.