Cheese-making Process Research Articles

Improving quark-type cheese yield and quality by treating semi-skimmed cow milk with microbial transglutaminase

This work aimed at studying the impact of adding different concentrations of microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) during the making process of quark, a mainly acid coagulated fresh cheese, using re-heated semi-skimmed milk. The results indicated that cheese yield increased linearly with increasing enzyme concentrations, thus reaching values of up to 19% higher than those of control cheeses. This increase resulted from reducing losses during the cheese-making process, both uncontrolled and at the curd-cutting step; all enzyme-assisted treatments exhibited similar behaviours and consequently, similar recovered protein levels. Yield differences among enzymatic treatments were due to changes in the amount of retained water related to variations in the MTGase-promoted protein polymerization level and their effects on cheese microstructure. Moreover, MTGase increased cheese hardness by strengthening protein network, and enhanced the nutritional quality due to the higher protein content; however, in both cases, an enzyme overdose involved a setback in the improvements obtained.

Analysis of antibiotic residues in raw bovine milk and their impact toward food safety and on milk starter cultures in cheese-making process

Antibiotics are widely used in livestock production as disease treatment, prevention and improve feeding efficiency. In this study three screenings and a multiclass method by Liquid Chromatography tandem Mass High Resolution Spectrometry (LC-HRMS) were developed and used to evaluate the antimicrobial substance incidence in 254 raw bovine milks involved in PDO cheese production in Northern Italy. The LC-HRMS results were compared to assess the frequency of false and negative results in term of reliability of screening methods. An investigation in relation to the quantified residues evaluating their possible negative impact on milk starter cultures in a simulated cheese-making process was presented. Lincomycin residues were observed in 30 samples, with 11.8% frequency and 17.29 ppb as mean value below its MRL. Three samples showed oxytetracycline respectively at 15.05, 0.82 and 1.59 ppb and two cefapirin and spyramycin at trace level. False positives with an acceptable frequency were observed by using the 3 kits confirming this approach useful for monitoring plans. Considering lincomycin, negative effect was demonstrated toward lactic acid bacteria activity in term of bacteria counts, pH and acidity during cheese making simulation. This represents a critical aspect considering both the economic value of PDO cheeses and the antibiotic resistance diffusion.

SÜT ENDÜSTRİSİ YAN ÜRÜNLERİ İLE ÜRETİLEN BİBER TURŞUSUNUN BAZI KALİTE PARAMETRELERİNİN ARAŞTIRILMASI

In this study, traditional pickled pepper was produced in 3 different formulations by using whey cheese and cheese crumbs, which are obtained as a by-product in the cheese-making process. In the scope of the study, the microbiological, chemical and sensory properties were examined during the 5 months of storage period. The initial E. coli contents of the samples were determined as 3.71, 2.73, 4.72 log cfu/g respectively and it was not detected in any of the group at the end of the 21st day. The 2nd group was the most acceptable in terms of taste (5.9-6.6), smell (6.2-6.6) and visual appearance (6.3-6.7) for 4 months. It was observed that there was no change in the chemical parameters of all groups that could negatively affect consumption during the storage period. As a result of the study, it was shown that a high value-added product can be produced by using dairy by-products.

Characterization of milk composition, coagulation properties, and cheese-making ability of goats reared in extensive farms

The aims of this study were to explore the variability of milk composition, coagulation properties, and cheese-making traits of the Sarda goat breed, and to investigate the effects of animal and farm factors, and the geographic area (Central-East vs. South-West) of an insular region of Italy, Sardinia. A total of 570 Sarda goats reared in 21 farms were milk-sampled during morning milking. Individual milk samples were analyzed for composition, traditional milk coagulation properties (MCP), modeled curd-firming over time parameters (CFt), and cheese-making traits (cheese yield, %CY; recovery of nutrients, %REC; daily cheese yield, dCY). Farms were classified into 2 categories based on milk energy level (MEL; high or low), defined according to the average net energy of milk daily produced by the lactating goats. Milk yield and composition were analyzed using a mixed model including the fixed effects of MEL, geographic area, days in milk, and parity, and the random effect of farm within MEL and geographic area. Data about MCP, CFt, and the cheese-making process were analyzed using the same model, with the inclusion of the effects of animal and pendulum of the lactodynamograph instrument, allowing the measure of repeatability of these traits. Results showed that animal had greater influence on coagulation and cheese-making traits compared with farm effect. Days in milk influenced milk composition, whose changes partly reflected the modifications of %CY traits. Moreover, large differences were observed between primiparous and multiparous goats: primiparous goats produced less milk of better quality (higher fat, lower somatic cell and bacterial counts) and less cheese, but with higher recovery of fat and protein in the curd, compared with multiparous goats. The repeatability was very high, for both coagulation (84.0 to 98.8%) and cheese-making traits (89.7 to 99.9%). The effect of MEL was significant for daily productions of milk and cheese, coagulation time, and recovery of protein in the curd, which were better in high-MEL farms. As regards geographic area, milk composition and percentage cheese yield were superior in the Central-East area, whereas daily milk and cheese production and MCP were better in the South-West. This result was explainable by the phenomenon of crossbreeding Sarda goats with Maltese bucks, which occurred with greater intensity in the South-West than in the Central-East area of the island. The results provided by this study could be of great interest for the goat dairy sector. Indeed, the methods described in the present study could be applicable for other farming methods, goat breeds, and geographic areas. The collection of a wide range of phenotypes at individual animal level is fundamental for the characterization of local populations and can be used to guarantee breed conservation and the persistence of traditional farming systems, and to increase farmers' profit.

Proteomic Characterisation of Lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) Milk as Influenced by Extraction Techniques, Seed Coat and Cultivars

Lupin seeds are rich in proteins and other essential ingredients that can help to improve human health. The protein contents in both whole and split seeds of two lupin cultivars (Mandleup and PBA Jurien) were used to produce the lupin milk using the cheesecloth and centrifuge method. Proteins were extracted from the lupin milk using thiourea/urea solubilization. The proteins were separated by a two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and then identified with mass spectrometry. A total of 230 protein spots were identified, 60 of which showed differential abundances. The cheesecloth separation showed protein extractability much better than that of the centrifuge method for both the cultivars. The results from this study could offer guidance for future comparative analysis and identification of lupin milk protein and provide effective separation technique to determine specific proteins in the cheese-making process.

Quantification of Cheese Yield Reduction in Manufacturing Parmigiano Reggiano from Milk with Non-Compliant Somatic Cells Count.

The mammary gland inflammation process is responsible for an increased number of somatic cells in milk, and transfers into the milk of some blood components; this causes alterations in the chemical composition and physico-chemical properties of milk. For this reason, somatic cell count (SCC) is one of the most important parameters of milk quality; therefore, European Union (EU) Regulation no 853/2004 has stated that it must not exceed the limit value of 400,000 cells/mL. The research aimed to compare chemical composition, cheese yield, and cheesemaking losses of two groups of vat milks used for Parmigiano Reggiano production, characterized by different SCC levels. During two years, ten cheesemaking trials were performed in ten different cheese factories. In each trial, two cheesemaking processes were conducted in parallel: one with low SCC milk (below 400,000 cells/mL; Low Cell Count (LCC)) and the other with high SCC milk (400,000–1,000,000 cells/mL; High Cell Count (HCC)). For each trial, vat milk and cooked whey were analyzed; after 24 months of ripening, cheeses were weighed to calculate cheese yield. The HCC group had lower casein content (2.43 vs. 2.57 g/100 g; p ≤ 0.05) and number (77.03% vs. 77.80%; p ≤ 0.05), lower phosphorus (88.37 vs. 92.46 mg/100g; p ≤ 0.05) and titratable acidity (3.16 vs. 3.34 °SH/50 mL; p ≤ 0.05) compared to LCC. However, chloride (111.88 vs. 104.12 mg/100 g; p ≤ 0.05) and pH (6.77 vs. 6.71; p ≤ 0.05) were higher. Fat losses during cheesemaking were higher (20.16 vs. 16.13%). After 24 months of ripening, cheese yield was 8.79% lower for HCC milk than LCC (6.74 vs. 7.39 kg/100 kg; p ≤ 0.05).

Absence of Viable Toxoplasma gondii in Artisanal Raw-Milk Ewe Cheese Derived from Naturally Infected Animals.

The presence of viable Toxoplasma gondii was investigated in artisanal cheeses made from milk of naturally infected ewes. Ewe milk was analyzed beforehand for the presence and vitality of T. gondii by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and reverse-transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR), respectively. Cheeses were prepared from raw milk following a traditional cheesemaking process. The cheese obtained from T. gondii-positive milk was analyzed by LAMP to detect Toxoplasma DNA-positive samples. RT-PCR was then carried out to assess the viability of the parasites in T. gondii-positive milk samples and fresh cheese, after 5 and 15 days of ripening. Physical-chemical parameters of cheeses were also investigated. All cheese samples derived from T. gondii-positive milk were positive according to LAMP, at both 5 and 15 days of ripening, while none of the samples were positive according to RT-PCR. Thus, while the presence of the parasite was demonstrated by the detection of specific DNA, the absence of detectable T. gondii RNA supports the hypothesis that changes in the chemical and physical characteristics occurring during the cheesemaking process and ripening period, could be sufficient to inactivate viable T. gondii in milk, minimizing the risk of human infection through consumption of raw sheep milk cheese.

Phenotypic Diversity of Lactobacillus casei Group Isolates as a Selection Criterion for Use as Secondary Adjunct Starters.

Autochthonous lactic acid bacteria (LAB) play a key role in the development of cheese flavor. As the pasteurization treatment on raw milk causes the elimination of LAB, secondary starter cultures are used in cheese manufacture to obtain cheeses with improved and standardized flavors. In this work, strains of the L. casei group isolated from traditional Italian cheeses were screened for their phenotypic features of technological interest for use as secondary starters. Their milk acidifying performance and the production of volatile compounds when grown in milk were evaluated. Simultaneously, the acetoin metabolic pathway presence was screened in the strains and assessed for its transcriptional activation. The results showed that the analyzed strains, despite belonging to taxonomically-related species, vary greatly according to the measured phenotypes. Four strains among the fourteen screened could be potentially used as adjunct cultures for cheese-making processes. The strain that showed the highest production of acetoin upregulated the aspartate pathway. An increased knowledge of volatile compounds’ production and acidifying properties of LAB strains isolated from traditional dairy products might guide the selection of strains for industrial applications.

Volatile Transference and Antimicrobial Activity of Cheeses Made with Ewes' Milk Fortified with Essential Oils.

During the last decades, essential oils (EOs) have been proven to be a natural alternative to additives or pasteurization for the prevention of microbial spoilage in several food matrices. In this work, we tested the antimicrobial activity of EOs from Melissa officinalis, Ocimum basilicum, and Thymus vulgaris against three different microorganisms: Escherichia coli, Clostridium tyrobutyricum, and Penicillium verrucosum. Pressed ewes’ cheese made from milk fortified with EOs (250 mg/kg) was used as a model. The carryover effect of each oil was studied by analyzing the volatile fraction of dairy samples along the cheese-making process using headspace stir bar sorptive extraction coupled to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Results showed that the EOs contained in T. vulgaris effectively reduced the counts of C. tyrobutyricum and inhibited completely the growth of P. verrucosum without affecting the natural flora present in the cheese. By contrast, the inhibitory effect of M. officinalis against lactic acid bacteria starter cultures rendered this oil unsuitable for this matrix.

Microbiological and physicochemical characteristics of Chihuahua cheese manufactured with raw milk

Chihuahua cheese is traditionally produced in the State of Chihuahua, Mexico, with raw milk, which involves potential bacterial outbreaks. The objective of this work was to characterize the cheese-making process of Chihuahua cheese, including the determination of cheese composition and microbiological determination of pathogens, indicators and Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB). Ten different cheese factories were sampled where cheese manufacturing protocols were documented. Also, samples of raw milk, curd, cheddaring, and final product were taken. Pathogens, indicators (total mesophilic bacteria, coliforms, coagulase-positive Staphylococci and Salmonella) and LAB were quantified in all samples. Proximal analysis of the final product was also completed. Although process steps were similar, there were significant variations in relevant parameters such as temperature, pH, and time. Regarding microbiological analysis, coliforms (5.9-7.4 Log10 CFU/g) and total mesophilic counts were high (8.8-9.2 Log10 CFU/g), while counts of S. aureus were within the range of 2.1-2.3 Log10 CFU/g. The microbial count of lactobacilli was lower in milk and higher in the final product. The highest counts of enterococci (6.97 Log10 CFU/g) and thermophilic lactobacilli (8.16 Log10 CFU/g) were observed in the final product. Microbial counts were different in all dairies and LAB groups varied during the manufacturing process. Principal Component Analysis grouped data by type of sample or process analyzed, rather than by dairy location. Manufacturing standardization, incorporation of good manufacturing practices, and milk pasteurization with the use of a starter culture, can improve the overall quality of Chihuahua cheese. The balance between the sensorial and physicochemical properties of the artisanal product will assure that Chihuahua cheese is not a risk of food-borne outbreaks for consumers.

Effect of starter sources and old fermentation on making nata de whey towards chemical quality

Whey cheese is a by-product of traditional or modern cheese-making processes. The yield of each cheesemaking reaches around 83% of the volume of milk used.whey can be processed into nata de whey by adding Acetobacterxylinum. The purpose of this study were to determine the effect of fermentation duration and differences in starter sources on the chemical quality produced by nata de whey. All samples were analyzed for fat, protein, cellulose and reducing sugars. this use study of two factorial randomized block design. The first factor is the difference in the starter (commercial and pineapple fruit extract) and the second factor is the length of fermentation with three replications. The results showed that the effect of fermentation time and the difference in starter sources on nata de whey had a very significant impact (P <0.01) on the calculation of fat content in the nata the whey. The duration of fermentation and differences in the source of the stater on nata de whey had no significant effect (P> 0.05) on the content of protein, reducing sugar and cellulose content produced.

Microbiological analysis of the Robiola di Roccaverano cheese by means of traditional culturing methods.

Robiola di Roccaverano is a Protected Designation of Origin soft cheese made with goat’s milk, produced in Piedmont region (Italy). The peculiarities of this cheese are: i) the use of the raw milk, ii) the addition of a Natural Milk Starter, iii) the application of traditional techniques of production and iv) the localization of the dairies in rural area. All these aspects influence the microbial flora of final product and make interesting its investigation. Samples were collected at different moment of the cheese making process and during the different seasons. In this preliminary study, the safety and the hygiene parameters of the production were evaluated. Lactic acid bacteria, moulds and yeasts involved in cheese-making process were also enumerated. Pathogens were not found in all samples and the counts of coagulase positive staphylococci were within the standard of law. The enumeration of microorganisms of technological interest demonstrated that, nevertheless the artisanal manufacturing process applied, the dairy was able to standardize the final products.

An Evaluation of the Clotting Properties of Three Plant Rennets in the Milks of Different Animal Species.

Cynara cardunculus, Carica papaya and Ficus carica extracts are proposed as milk coagulants herein. Their coagulation efficiency was measured in bovine, buffalo, goat and sheep milk incubated at different temperatures. The milk-clotting and proteolytic activities as well as the lactodynamographic parameters were determined considering animal rennet as a reference coagulant. The vegetable coagulant, extracted from C. cardunculus pistils, proved to be the most suitable milk-clotting enzyme for cheesemaking, since it possesses similar milk clotting properties to conventional calf rennet. F. carica latex, but seemed to be a promising alternative coagulant at higher temperatures. The strong proteolytic activity of papain caused poor milk coagulation in all milk samples. To conclude, this result also supports the original hypothesis of this study that the excessive proteolytic nature of plant coagulants can negatively affect the cheesemaking process. The optimization of using a plant rennet in a dairy application can be done by selecting the appropriate plant rennet with a consistent clotting efficiency. These innovative manufacturing processes may also lead to the optimization and production of new cheese varieties.

Making cheese with caprifig sap in Apulia, Italy: possible rebirth of an ancient tradition

Background and objectivesMaking cheese by coagulating milk with extracts or parts of plants is a tradition of many countries facing the Mediterranean basin. Such cheeses were historically produced from sheep and goat milk and represent an important cultural heritage. In the European Union (EU), nowadays, their production is allowed only after legal validation of the manufacturing process under the hygienic point of view. Unfortunately, validation has been possible only for a few Protected Designation of Origin cheeses, but other dairy products exist for which it has not been carried out. It is the case of the caprifig sap cheeses produced in the “Murgia” highplain, Apulia region, Southern Italy. In this rural marginal area, three cheeses have been historically made by this coagulant: milk sap ricotta, Pampanella, and Cacioricotta. Due to the above legal concerns, they have become very rare and, if no action is taken, they will disappear very soon. The main purpose of the present work was to make a survey about the status of preservation of their processing methods and to document them before it is too late. A second aim was to perform a first summary investigation about their safety and compositional and sensory characteristics.MethodsA series of face-to-face interviews was conducted to owners and cheesemakers of sheep and goat farms laying in the Murgia Hills territory. Cheese samples were prepared at three different rural dairies and subjected to chemical, microbiological, and sensory analyses.Results and conclusionsThe survey confirmed that caprifig sap cheeses are still occasionally produced for family consumption, mainly from goat milk in the southern part of the highplain. They have the common characteristic of deriving from milk subjected to strong heat treatment and containing both casein and whey proteins. The manufacturing procedures were observed, and two different methods of preparing and using caprifig sap were documented. The cheesemaking process was analyzed and discussed under a technological point of view, and geo-sociological connections were hypothesized. The three cheeses presented significant sensory differences and proved to potentially match the EU hygienic standards if the post-vat operations are performed under correct conditions. Overall, the study gave a contribution for the hygienic validation of the manufacturing process in view of a possible rebirth.

Diversity of traditional Caciocavallo cheeses produced in Italy

This paper presents the results of a survey carried out in 68 dairies in southern Italy on the manufacturing processes of traditional Italian Caciocavallo cheese varieties. Following a study of the relevant literature, the various cheesemaking processes were analysed and the implications of different cheesemaking procedures were explored. The manufacturing variations able to influence the organoleptic characteristics of Caciocavallo cheese were milk and rennet types, procedures for curd acidification and stretching, salting and ripening conditions, and smoking treatment. This survey is designed to guide producers and consumers alike with respect to the perceivable effects of manufacturing variants on cheese quality.

Comparing economic and environmental performance of three industrial cheesemaking processes through a predictive analysis

Abstract The From'Innov cheesemaking process was recently suggested to increase process control and flexibility while reducing the use of energy and fresh water. It focuses on building cheese texture and aroma separately, in a shorter time than any other cheese technology, by enriching a liquid precheese with aromatic matrices fermented by traditional ripening microorganisms. This study assesses the economic benefits, and the use of energy and fresh water of the From'Innov process through predictive analysis. A singleday production of industrial bloomy soft cheese (Camembert-type) was simulated in three distinct virtual plants (100,000 kg of milk per day) using different technological approaches: the From'Innov, the Maubois-Mocquot-Vassal (MMV, another liquid pre-cheese process) or the traditional processes. With its higher margin and its lower specific energy and fresh water consumption, the From'Innov process appeared to be the most efficient.

Coagulation Traits of Sheep and Goat Milk.

Simple SummaryThe suitability of milk for cheese production is usually predicted at dairy plants using mathematical formulas, which are based on milk protein and fat content. In addition, several methods, which use a small volume of milk to simulate the cheesemaking processes and stages, are currently available at the laboratory level. Those methods have been developed and improved for cow milk. In the present review, the author reports the available literature and current methods to analyze coagulation traits from sheep and goat milk.Milk production from sheep and goat species is continuously growing worldwide, and its main use is for cheesemaking. Given that the final quality of cheese is linked to the traits of raw milk cheese yield at dairy plants, it is often calculated by using predictive formulas based on fat and protein content. Predictive formulas have been studied for bovine milk and are very effective but not appropriate for sheep and goat milk. Several methods, which simulate the actual coagulation processes, are available at the laboratories. This article reviews the available literature about rennet coagulation and cheese yield traits from sheep and goat milk and the methods used at the laboratory level. In general, if compared to cow milk, sheep and goat milk are characterized by shorter rennet coagulation times and a very limited amount of non-coagulating samples. Curd firmness of sheep milk is almost independent from the rennet coagulation time, and some coagulation traits can be predicted by infrared spectra. In addition, coagulation traits are characterized by appropriate values of heritability to be considered in selective breeding plans. With regard to goat milk, rennet coagulation time and cheese yield are strongly influenced by the breed effect.

Effect of Season and Factory on Cheese-Making Efficiency in Parmigiano Reggiano Manufacture.

The assessment of the efficiency of the cheese-making process (ECMP) is crucial for the profitability of cheese-factories. A simple way to estimate the ECMP is the measure of the estimated cheese-making losses (ECL), expressed by the ratio between the concentration of each constituent in the residual whey and in the processed milk. The aim of this research was to evaluate the influence of the season and cheese factory on the efficiency of the cheese-making process in Parmigiano Reggiano cheese manufacture. The study followed the production of 288 Parmigiano Reggiano cheese on 12 batches in three commercial cheese factories. For each batch, samples of the processed milk and whey were collected. Protein, casein, and fat ECL resulted in an average of 27.01%, 0.72%, and 16.93%, respectively. Both milk crude protein and casein contents were negatively correlated with protein ECL, r = −0.141 (p ≤ 0.05), and r = −0.223 (p ≤ 0.001), respectively. The same parameters resulted in a negative correlation with casein ECL (p ≤ 0.001) (r = −0.227 and −0.212, respectively). Moreover, fat ECL was correlated with worse milk coagulation properties and negatively correlated with casein content (r = −0.120; p ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, ECLs depend on both milk characteristics and season.

ENRIQUECIMIENTO DE LACTOFERRINA MEDIANTE UN PROCESO SIMPLE BASADO EN EXTRACCIÓN EN FASE SÓLIDA

Bovine whey is a promising by-product of cheese-making processes, which one can be extracted high-value compounds, like lactoferrin (Lf). This protein has biological activity, such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. Several methods have been proposed to separate Lf from whey, including ultrafiltration or chromatography affinity. In this work, extraction of Lf was proposed, which was carried out using a matrix of polyacrylamide (PAM) activated with Cu (II) to improve its affinity to lactoferrin. Matrices were prepared with two different %T concentrations (6 and 10); these were characterized, and PAM 10%T showed higher entropy values (higher homogeneity), therefore, it was modified with cupric ion and used in the subsequent extraction stages. FT-IR and SEM analysis supported the functionalization of matrix PAM 10%T; likewise, the role of the copper ion in the extraction procedure. According to SDS-PAGE results, PAM (10%T)-IDA-Cu2+-imidazole enabled to reach a lactoferrin recovery around 82.5%; besides, a Lf-enriched fraction (150 µg per gram of powder) was obtained. The method proposed represents an adequate alternative for the recovery of lactoferrin from bovine whey, which is considered a problematic waste.

Effects of indirect indicators of udder health on nutrient recovery and cheese yield traits in goat milk

In dairy goats, very little is known about the effect of the 2 most important indirect indicators of udder health [somatic cell count (SCC) and total bacterial count (TBC)] on milk composition and cheese yield, and no information is available regarding the effects of lactose levels, pH, and NaCl content on the recovery of nutrients in the curd, cheese yield traits, and daily cheese yields. Because large differences exist among dairy species, conclusions from the most studied species (i.e., bovine) cannot be drawn for all types of dairy-producing animals. The aims of this study were to quantify, using milk samples from 560 dairy goats, the contemporary effects of a pool of udder health indirect indicators (lactose level, pH, SCC, TBC, and NaCl content) on the recovery of nutrients in the curd (%REC), cheese yield (%CY), and daily cheese yields (dCY). Cheese-making traits were analyzed using a mixed model, with parity, days in milk (DIM), lactose level, pH, SCC, TBC, and NaCl content as fixed effects, and farm, breed, glass tube, and animal as random effects. Results indicated that high levels of milk lactose were associated with reduced total solids recovery in the curd and lower cheese yields, because of the lower milk fat and protein contents in samples rich in lactose. Higher pH correlated with higher recovery of nutrients in the curd and higher cheese yield traits. These results may be explained by the positive correlation between pH and milk fat, protein, and casein in goat milk. High SCC were associated with higher recovery of solids and energy in the curd but lower recovery of protein. The higher cheese yield obtained from milk with high SCC was due to both increased recovery of lactose in the curd and water retention. Bacterial count proved to be the least important factor affecting cheese-making traits, but it decreased daily cheese yields, suggesting that, even if below the legal limits, TBC should be considered in order to monitor flock management and avoid economic losses. The effect of NaCl content on milk composition was linked with lower recovery of all nutrients in the curd during cheese-making. In addition, high milk NaCl content led to reductions in fresh cheese yield and cheese solids. The indirect indicators of the present study significantly affected the cheese-making process. Such information should be considered, to adjust the milk-to-cheese economic value and the milk payment system.