A Survey on Mono-, Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, Desaturase Indices and Atherogenic Index in the Milk Fat of Local Breeds (Cabannina, Varzese and Valdostana) Reared in Northern Italy

In this paper the characteristics of the fatty acid profile in local Italian bovine breeds (Cabannina, Varzese and Valdostana) are compared with those of Friesian, a known cosmopolite breed during the first period of lactation. The local breeds show a general trend to have higher unsaturated fatty acid percentages, as well as lower desaturase indices (related to C14, C16 and C18) and atherogenic index, with respect to Friesian cows. The results can add further information aiming to re-evaluate an almost lost local treasure in Northern Italy.