Seasonal Variations of Chemical Composition and Microbiological Quality of Camels Milk in Transhumance Nomadic Production System in Shandi Area, Northern Sudan

Abstract

Transhumance production system is characterized by seasonal movement of the herders to make use of free-range pasture. In this study camel milk samples were collected during different seasons from different she camels’ rearing in transhumance system. The camel milk samples (n= 150) were collected from Western and Eastern Shandi, River Nile State, Sudan. The chemical composition (protein, lactose, total solids and density) and microbiological loads (total bacterial, coliform and yeast and mould) of camel milk were determined. The results showed that overall means for the total solids, protein and lactose content and density of camel milk samples collected from Eastern and Western Shandi during different seasons revealed 12.98±12.84%, 3.58±3.43% and 4.77±4.69% and 1.035±1.030 gm/cm3, respectively. The age and parity number of the she camel revealed highly significant (P<0.01) correlations when compared with total solids, protein, lactose and density. The milk yield was higher in camel reared in Eastern Shandi during winter and Western Shandi during autumn. Also, there were significant (P<0.05) differences in total bacterial, coliform and yeast and mould counts in camel milk collected from Western and Eastern Shandi during the different seasons. However non-significant (P>0.05) differences were found between the two locations in the microbial quality of camel milk. This study concluded that parity number, age of camel, seasons and pasture content are important factors contributing to the variations in camel milk chemical composition. Moreover, the transhumance production system of camel sustains uniform chemical composition of milk, while variations in the microbiological quality are observed.