QUALITY OF PROTEIN IN MILK REPLACERS FOR YOUNG CALVES. I. FACTORS AFFECTING IN VITRO CURD FORMATION BY RENNET (CHYMOSIN, RENNIN) FROM RECONSTITUTED SKIM MILK POWDER

Abstract

Fresh milk coagulates with chymosin (rennin) in the calf stomach to form relatively strong curds. With respect to calf milk replacers it is of interest to study factors affecting curd formation of reconstituted skim milk powder by this enzyme. Curd firmness was increased by lower pH of the skim milk over a range of 5.6–6.6, higher concentration of skim milk solids over a range of 5–20%, higher concentrations of chymosin, lower temperatures of heat treatment of skim milk prior to spray drying, and higher temperature of coagulation, 37 vs. 30 C. Reconstitution of powder in water above 56 C for 2 min remarkedly reduced the firmness of the curd. The following coagulation conditions were selected for comparison of powders and milk replacers: addition of 1 ml of a 1:50 dilution of standard strength commercial rennet to 100 ml of milk previously adjusted to pH 6.1, 10% of nonfat solids in the aqueous nonfat phase, temperature of 37 C, and measurements of firmness 30 min after adding rennet. Commercially produced skim milk powders designated high-heat, medium-heat and roller products yielded soft curds. Commercial low-heat powders yielded strong curds. All coagulated in less than 4 min at pH 6.1, the time being relatively independent of heat treatment.