Some bound forms of pantothenic acid in the milk of normal dairy cows

Abstract

Summary: The levels of coenzyme A were measured in the milk of normal dairy cows during the first 20 weeks of lactation. Estimations were made on milk samples obtained from some cows in their first lactation and from older cows. The microbiological method described by Brown (1959) for the estimation of bound forms of pantothenic acid was used, but considerable modification of this method was necessary to avoid elevated results due to the stimulatory action of free pantothenic acid on the response of the assay organism. Appreciable amounts of coenzyme A were excreted in the milk of cows in their second or subsequent lactations during the first 12–16 weeks after parturition, peak levels being reached after the end of the 1st week. In comparison, only small amounts of coenzyme A were excreted in the milk of cows in their first lactation. Attempts to detect the presence of phosphopantetheine in milk were unsuccessful.