Region dependent ¹³C, ¹⁵N, ¹⁸O isotope ratios in the cow milk

Abstract

We present measurements of stable carbon, nitrogen and oxygen isotope ratio values in cow milk, forage and drinking water collected in Belarus. Milk, water and forage were sampled in Brest, Gomel, Grodno, Minsk and Mogilev regions during summer and winter seasons. δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values in dried milk samples ranged from –30.2 to – 20.0‰ and from +3.63 to +5.66‰, respectively. The lowest δ¹³C values were obtained in the Mogilev region in summer. δ¹⁸O values in drinking water were quite constant (δ¹⁸O = +9.83±0.63‰), but the δ¹⁸O pattern in milk water changed across the regions.