The Thiamine, Riboflavin, Nicotinic Acid and Pantothenic Acid Content of Colostrum and Milk of the Cow and Ewe

Abstract

There is a definite species difference in the amounts of thiamine, riboflavin and nicotinic acid in both the colostrum and milk of the cow and ewe. The colostrum and milk of the ewe are both much richer in each of these vitamins than the colostrum and milk of the cow. The colostrum of both the cow and ewe is much higher in thiamine and riboflavin than is the milk of the respective species. The colostrum of the cow contains an average of 0.62 μg. of thiamine and 6.10 μg. of riboflavin per milliliter while the corresponding values for the milk are 0.38 μg. and 1.77 μg. per milliliter. Ewe's colostrum contains 1.08 μg. of thiamine and 20.08 μg. of riboflavin per milliliter while the corresponding values for the milk of the ewe are 0.60 μg. and 4.36 μg. per milliliter. There was no significant difference in the nicotinic acid content of cow's colostrum and milk, but ewe's milk contained almost twice as much as the colostrum. The pantothenic acid level of the milk of both species is higher than it is in the colostrum. The riboflavin and pantothenic acid for the cow attain the level for normal milk within less than a week after parturition, but the high level for thiamine persists beyond the tenth day.