Inorganic elements profiling in milk from buffalo farms of the Campania Region (Italy)

Abstract

Background: Bulk milk samples from 69 dairy buffalo farms of the Campania Region, Italy were drawn for the determination of 20 selected elements by ICP-MS. The main goal was to ascertain how the agricultural soil geo-chemistry could influence the milk pattern with respect to feeding practices. Methods: Local forages (N = 207) and groundwater (N = 486) were analyzed too to recover the feeding-to-milk carry-over rates (COR) of selected elements and identify the main contributors to milk contamination. Left censored data >10% limited to 11 elements (Mn, As, Se, Sr, Zn, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and V) the multivariate system approach based on cluster and factor analysis. Results: We identified 8/11 elements - Sr, Mn, Zn, Co, Se, Cr, Fe, and V - explaining the main quote of variation observed among farms milk pattern. In particular, Co resulted as discriminant for specific villages of the Salerno Province. On median values, cereals (34%) and feed supplement (31%) represented the main contributors to Cr intake; for V, hay (46%) and water (42%); for Fe, water (46%); for Se, Co and Zn, mineral supplements (67; 73; 82%); for Sr, hay (71%), for Mn, mineral supplements (36%) and water (30%). Median CORs rates (%) were the following: Se and Cr: 40; V: 13; Mn: 5.2; Sr: 4.7; Zn: 3.7; Co: 3.4; Fe: 1.6; respectively. Conclusion: The factor analysis could trace the geographical origin of buffalo milk at farm level, according to similar management practices, partially irrespective of the municipality/province level.

Keywords

• Buffalo milk
• Forages
• Elements
• Factor analysis
• Campania Region