Analysis of Goat and Sheep Milk for Compositional, Physicochemical and Selected Minerals
K. S. Chavda *
Department of Dairy Chemistry, Sheth M. C. College of Dairy Science, Kamdhenu University, Anand – 388 110, India.
S. C. Parmar
Department of Dairy Chemistry, Sheth M. C. College of Dairy Science, Kamdhenu University, Anand – 388 110, India.
H. K. Patel
Department of Dairy Chemistry, Sheth M. C. College of Dairy Science, Kamdhenu University, Anand – 388 110, India.
K. N. Patel
Department of Dairy Technology, Sheth M. C. College of Dairy Science, Kamdhenu University, Anand – 388 110, India.
N. L. Vadhiya
Department of Dairy Chemistry, Sheth M. C. College of Dairy Science, Kamdhenu University, Anand – 388 110, India.
A. K. Jain
Department of Dairy Chemistry, Sheth M. C. College of Dairy Science, Kamdhenu University, Anand – 388 110, India.
A. I. Shaikh
Department of Dairy Chemistry, Sheth M. C. College of Dairy Science, Kamdhenu University, Anand – 388 110, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Goat and sheep milk are important small-ruminant dairy resources with distinct compositional, physicochemical and mineral characteristics that influence their nutritional and processing properties. These characteristics may vary with species, breed, lactation stage, feeding system and geographical conditions. However, region-specific comparative information on the composition, physicochemical properties and soluble–colloidal distribution of major minerals in goat and sheep milk from Gujarat remains limited. Goat and sheep milk samples were analysed for compositional and physicochemical properties and selected mineral content. Sheep milk had higher total solids (17.20%), fat (6.30%), protein (5.20%) and ash (0.85%) than goat milk (12.98%, 4.28%, 3.44% and 0.73%, respectively), with mean lactose contents of 4.49% and 4.88% in goat and sheep milk, respectively. Specific gravity and viscosity were higher in sheep milk than in goat milk. However, pH, titratable acidity, surface tension and electrical conductivity were similar between the two milk types. For the selected minerals calcium, magnesium and phosphorus, sheep milk had higher concentrations (180.80, 16.73 and 155.68 mg/100 mL, respectively) than goat milk (137.50, 15.19 and 119.50 mg/100 mL, respectively). No difference was observed in chloride content between the two milks. Calcium and phosphorus were found predominantly in the colloidal phase, representing 69.90% and 61.26% in goat milk and 73.86% and 62.73% in sheep milk, respectively. Magnesium and chloride, however, were largely present in the soluble state. The results of this study provide comparative information on the composition, physicochemical properties and mineral content of goat and sheep milk. These data may be relevant to processing and product formulation using the milk of small ruminants such as goats and sheep.
Keywords: Goat milk, sheep milk, physicochemical properties, mineral content, partitioning