Determining lactose content of harp seal milk

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Lactose levels in harp seal (Phoca groenlandica) milk were estimated using 3 quantitative techniques (phenol-sulfuric acid, anthrone reagent and picric acid). Based on its low coefficient of variation, accuracy and simplicity, the anthrone technique was the preferred method. Lactose content of harp seal milk remained constant throughout lactation at 0.89 .+-. 0.14/100 g whole milk (.hivin.x .+-. 1 SD, n = 22). Fat, water and protein content of the samples were not significantly different from those determined in a previous study. The absence of between-year differences in these constituents further suggests that carbohydrate content also did not change significantly from year to year.