Associations among individual proteins and fatty acids in bovine milk as determined by correlations and factor analyses

Associations among quantities and concentrations of individual milk protein s and fatty acids were determined in individual milk samples from 233 Holst ein cows. Correlation coefficients among the six major proteins and the ele ven major fatty acids in bovine milk were grouped hierarchically. Factor an alyses grouped the milk components into seven families: fatty acids 4:0-6:0 , 6:0-16:0, 16:0, 18:0, 16:1 plus 18:1 plus 18:2, all milk proteins and bet a-lactoglobulin alone. Correlation coefficients and groupings by factor ana lyses coincided with shared pathways of synthesis or genetic origins of mil k proteins and fatty acids because they are the basis of the correlation co efficients. Hence, the results from correlations and factor analyses could be used to develop hypotheses for the synthesis of milk components and othe r coordinately regulated physiological processes.