Abstract
Simple SummaryIntensive and semi-intensive sheep farming are the two farming systems usually employed in Greece. Several studies have been conducted on the effect of the farming system on sheep milk fatty acid composition. This study simultaneously examines milk basic composition, physicochemical characteristics, fatty acid composition, and nutritional value according to the production system. Bulk tank milk from farms using the intensive and semi-intensive production systems was analyzed. The results show that grazing can improve the fatty acid composition of milk. Thus, pasture-based feeding strategies could improve the fatty acid composition and the nutritional properties of sheep dairy products.Dairy sheep farming is a vital sector of the agricultural economy in Greece. Information on the effect of the farming system on sheep milk characteristics is critical for producing dairy products with improved nutritional value according to the current guidelines for healthy food consumption. This study aimed to investigate the basic composition, physicochemical characteristics, fatty acid composition, and nutritional indices of milk produced in intensive and semi-intensive sheep farms. Bulk tank milk samples from 20 intensive and 20 semi-intensive sheep farms were examined. Sheep in the intensive farms were kept indoors and were fed with roughage, silage, and concentrates. Sheep in the semi-intensive farms were kept indoors during the night and were moved to the pastures during the day. Sheep were fed with roughage, silage, and concentrates in combination with grazing. Milk composition and somatic cell count were determined with automatic analyzers. The physicochemical characteristics were determined with standard laboratory methods. The fatty acid composition was analyzed by gas chromatography. The farming system did not affect milk chemical composition and physicochemical characteristics. However, milk fatty acid composition and nutritional value were significantly improved in milk from farms using the semi-intensive production system, and this favorable effect was attributed to the inclusion of pasture in sheep diet.
Highlights
Sheep breeding has a significant economic impact in the rural mountainous areas of Greece, and there are 6.5 million dairy ewes [1] that produce approximately 650 million of milk annually [2]
The objective of this study was to offer updated information on the chemical composition, physicochemical characteristics, fatty acid composition, and nutritional value of sheep milk produced in commercial farms using the intensive and semi-intensive farming system
In a similar study conducted in the same area, it was found that milk protein, fat, lactose, and ash contents were significantly lower in milk from intensive farms than in that from semi-intensive farms [25]
Summary
Sheep breeding has a significant economic impact in the rural mountainous areas of Greece, and there are 6.5 million dairy ewes [1] that produce approximately 650 million (tons) of milk annually [2]. Sheep milk quality is primarily related to its processing performance, i.e., its capability to produce high yields of improved quality dairy products [4]. In this respect, information on the composition, physicochemical properties, and nutritional value of sheep milk is critical for the dairy industry and the quality characteristics of the dairy products. The quality characteristics of sheep milk are crucial for the farmers, since Greek dairy factories qualitative classify the produced milk and pay the farmers . The quality of sheep milk is affected by several factors such as genetics (breed and genotype), animal health, physiological (age and parity, lactation stage), environmental (season), and management (type of feed, farming system, milking techniques) aspects as well as their interactions [6,7,8]
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