author(s)
Dr. Tahir Nazir, Mohammad Ashraf Pal, Fayaz Ahmad Sheikh, Tasaduk Khaliq, Asif Hassan Sofi and Sheikh Rafeh Ahmad

abstract
Colostrum samples were collected from the MLRI, SKUAST-Kashmir and various field locations during 2015-16 with the objective of finding out the relationship between the age of cow and quality characteristics of bovine colostrum. The cows from whom samples were collected were grouped into three different groups according to their ages, Group I – cows of 2-4 years of age; Group II – cows of 5-7 years of age; Group III – cows of 8-10 years of age. The specific gravity, fat, whey proteins, and total solids (1.042, 5.8%, 3.6%, 19.9% respectively) of the colostrum samples of group I cows was significantly (p≤0.05) lower compared to group II cows (1.047, 6.6%, 4.5%, 21.9% respectively). The total protein content of group I cows (8.5%) was significantly (p≤0.05) lower than both group II (9.8%) and group III (9.7%) cows which among themselves possessed comparable values for total protein. The ash content of the colostrum samples the group I cows (0.89%) showed significantly (p≤0.05) lower values compared to group III cows (1.02%) while the ash content of group II (0.91%) cows was comparable to both group I as well as group III cows. Casein protein, lactose, solids not fat, ash and electrical conductivity possessed comparable values having no significant (p>0.05) difference among different age groups.