Chemical composition and nutrient profile of low molecular weight fraction of bovine colostrum

Bovine colostrum collected within 12 h of parturition was de-fatted, de-caseinated, and ultrafiltered (UF) using a 5 kDa cut-off membrane; the resulting UF permeate was freeze dried to create a powder with possible use as a functional food ingredient. Samples representative of five lots of this powdered “colostrum low molecular weight fraction” (CLMWF) were analyzed for chemical composition and nutrient profile. The average contents of fat, moisture, and ash were 0.6%, 1.7%, and 8.3%, respectively. Carbohydrate analysis showed an average of 58.2% lactose monohydrate with no monosaccharides, other disaccharides, trioses, or tetroses detected. The total nitrogen content averaged 1.13%, with 74% of this in the non-protein nitrogen fraction, producing an apparent protein content of 1.9%. A significant mass fraction of the material (∼29%) remains to be characterized. The CLMWF powders contained significant quantities of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and sodium, taurine, l-carnitine, thiamine, and riboflavin, and uridine, cytidine and guanosine based nucleos(t)ides.