Raw Goat Milk Research Articles

Physicochemical, microbiological characterization and proteolysis of Algerian traditional Bouhezza cheese prepared from goat’s raw milk

Bouhezza is an Algerian traditional cheese made using different types of milk (goat, sheep and cow), ripened in a goat-skin or sheep-skin bag called Chekoua or Djeld of Bouhezza. The objective of the study was the characterization of Bouhezza cheese through ten cheese preparation trials using goat raw milk. The chemical and microbiological composition and proteolysis were monitored on ripened samples. The physicochemical characteristics showed that Bouhezza is acidic with a pH value of 3.95 and 2.36% for titratable acidity as lactic acid, 13.20% for protein and 12.74% for fat. At the end of ripening, Bouhezza was classified to be a ripened, soft and mid-fat cheese. Sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) of Bouhezza samples showed low proteolysis after 30 days of ripening. Microbiological results showed a high content of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), 8 to 9 log cfu/ g, an absence of pathogenic bacteria, and a low level of contamination flora. This makes the cheese a healthy product and of an acceptable hygienic quality. Four proteolytic lactic acid bacteria were identified by 16S ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (rDNA) sequencing: two strains of Enterococcus faecalis, one E. faecium, and one Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei. Reversed phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP–HPLC) of the soluble fraction at pH 4.4 showed changes occurred during ripening. This work highlights, characterizes, and improves the knowledge of cheese Bouhezza made with raw goat's milk. This product is rich in nutrients, such as proteins and minerals, that are useful to the consumer.

Isolation and Characterisation of Lactic Acid Bacteria from Raw and Fermented Milk

The aim of this study was to isolate and phenotypically characterised lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from samples of raw (cow, goat) and traditional fermented milk product (nono).The assessed characteristics of LAB as indexed in Bergeys Manual of Determinative Bacteriology are cellular characteristic (Gram staining), growth at pH 4.5 and 9.6, growth in 5% NaCl, production of ammonia from arginine, tolerance to temperature 15 and 45oC, starch hydrolysis, and fermentation of sugars test. Fifty-five LAB were isolated and identified as Pediococcus acidilactici (15), Lactobacillus plantarum (29), Lactobacillus brevis (4), Lactobacillus casei (4), and Lactobacillus fermentum (3). Four species of the Lactobacillus isolated from nono samples were identified as Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus fermentum while Pediococcus acidilactici was isolated from raw cow and goat milk. Lactobacillus plantarum was the dorminant organism with the highest frequency occurrence of 52.7% while Lactobacillus fermentum had the lowest (5.5%). Lactobacillus species are normally found in fermented milk product which could be of great importance in food industry.

Microbiological profile of fresh goat milk: Impact of goat farmer practices in “Taruna Mukti” goat farmer group, Sragen, Central Java

Goat milk is susceptible to be contaminated by many microorganisms including microbial pathogens responsible for causing diseases. Various contaminations come from every stage of goat milk produce including feeding, milking, and milk treatments. The aim of this study was to assess the practice of dairy goat farmer and evaluate the microbiological profile of raw goat milk in dairy goat farmer group. The study showed that row milk had high total plate count (7, 8x106 CFU/ml). Thus, Coliform and E. coli were detected in the samples of fresh goat milk. Overall, it can be seen that fresh goat milk was relatively poor hygienic quality and was not conformed to the Indonesian Nasional Standard.

Epidemiological Characteristics of Staphylococcus Aureus in Raw Goat Milk in Shaanxi Province, China.

Goat milk has been frequently implicated in staphylococcal food poisoning. The potential risk of raw goat milk contaminated by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in Shaanxi province of China is still not well documented. This study investigated the prevalence, antibiotic resistance, as well as virulence-related genes of S. aureus from raw goat milk samples in Shaanxi, China. A total of 68 S. aureus isolates were cultured from 289 raw goat milk. Most of the isolates were resistant to penicillin and oxacillin, although 41.18%, 33.82%, and 29.41% of the isolates expressed resistance to piperacillin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and ciprofloxacin, respectively. Our data demonstrated that 91.18% of the isolates produced biofilm, of which 54.41% isolates belonged to high-biofilm producers. In addition, genotypic analysis of biofilm related genes (fnbA, clfB, fnbB, cna) revealed that 91.18% of the isolates harbored at least one of the genes, in which the most prevalent genes were fnbA (66. 17%), clfB (48.53%), and fnbB (26.47%). 94.8% of the isolates contained at least one toxin-related gene, of which seb (76.47%), tsst (36.76%), and sea (23.53%) genes were the more frequently detected. Further analysis revealed a positive association between fnbA, clfB, fnbB, seb, tsst, and sea genes and certain antibiotic resistance. The results indicated that raw goat milk samples contaminated by S. aureus can be a potential risk to public health.

Effect of thermosonication process on physicochemical properties and microbial load of goat's milk.

In this study, thermosonication was used as a combined treatment of raw goat milk (RGM) using pasteurization (72°C for 15s) and ultrasound treatments (20kHz at the power variance of 150W, 200W, 300W and 400W for 10min). Investigation on the impact of the microbial load, protein content, protein aggregation, the particle size of fat and casein micelles, pH, viscosity, turbidity, color, and soluble calcium and phosphorus contents were carried out, whiles RGM and PGM served as the control. Our results revealed that at 400W, that thermosonication resulted in a significant reduction (α = 0.05) in the microbial load of the samples to less than 2.3 log cfu/mL in comparison to those of RGM and pasteurized goat milk (PGM) at 5.94 log cfu/mL and 4.76 log cfu/mL respectively. In RGM, the fat size (3.5µm) decreased to 0.4µm at 300W; while those of casein micelles also decreased from 406 to 256.4nm at 400W. However, no significant effect was observed in the color and soluble calcium and phosphorus contents of all samples. The effect on the microbial load and fat homogenization would promote thermosonication process in the dairy industry.

Estimation of Aflatoxin M1 Levels in Some Dairy Products Manufactured from Raw Milk Experimentally Inoculated with Toxin

Fate of AflatoxinM1 in soft white cheese and its by-product (whey) and in yogurt locally made from raw sheep's and goat's milk experimentally inoculated with 0.05 and 0.5 µg/l AflatoxinM1 were investigated using ELISA technique. Results reported that AflatoxinM1 was concentrated in cheese at levels significantly higher than that recorded in the raw milk that used for its processing, with a significant decrease in AflatoxinM1 levels in its by-product (whey) comparable to the raw milk used in manufacturing at both inoculated levels. Yogurt produced from raw sheep's milk at second inoculated level exerted AflatoxinM1concentration significantly lower than that present in the milk. Significant differences in AflatoxinM1distribution in cheese and whey produced from sheep's milk comparable to their counterparts produced from goat's milk were recorded. Finally, results revealed the efficacious role of the various dairy manufacturing processes in AflatoxinM1 distribution and the necessity to issue of local legislations concerning the maximum permissible limits for AflatoxinM1 in milk in order to stay within the universal permissible levels for AflatoxinM1 in dairy products to provide greater protection for consumer health.

Toxoplasma gondii in naturally infected goats: Monitoring of specific IgG levels in serum and milk during lactation and parasitic DNA detection in milk

The zoonotic protozoa Toxoplasma gondii is one of the major abortive pathogens in small ruminants. Nevertheless, data on T. gondii infection in goats during lactation and on the presence of T. gondii in goat milk are lacking. A longitudinal study was planned in a T. gondii naturally infected dairy goat farm with the aim of (i) evaluating the variation of anti-T. gondii antibodies in blood and milk during the lactation; (ii) identifying the optimal phase during lactation for T. gondii monitoring; (iii) detecting the presence of T. gondii DNA in the milk. From March to July 2017, 30 goats in a farm were fortnightly visited seven times and sampled for blood and, when in lactation, for milk. Individual data regarding age, reproductive disorders, and the day of lactation were recorded. For the detection of anti-T. gondii antibodies in blood and milk a commercial ELISA kit was used. Milk samples (n = 63) of selected nine seropositive animals were also molecularly analysed to amplify a sequence within the ITS1 region of T. gondii. The seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was 63.3% (19/30); a high agreement was obtained between serum and milk results (Spearman's coefficient = 0.793 and Kendall's tau = 0.624), particularly between the 15th and the 60th day of lactation. In the statistical analysis, performed with generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs), the variable “phase of lactation” was strongly associated to ELISA values obtained in both serum and milk (p-value = 0.0001, F = 5.197, and p-value = 0.016, F = 2.755, respectively). Finally, molecular analyses revealed the presence of parasitic DNA in 20.6% (13/63) of milk samples, with a discontinuous parasite excretion; statistical analyses did not reveal any association among the parasite excretion and the considered variables. Milk could be considered as a valid alternative to blood for monitoring T. gondii infection in goat herds. Moreover, the detection of T. gondii DNA in milk enhanced the possibility for raw goat's milk consumption to be considered as a risk to public health.

Conventional and omics approaches shed light on Halitzia cheese, a long-forgotten white-brined cheese from Cyprus

Production and ripening of Halitzia cheese was examined by conventional physicochemical and microbiological analyses along with state-of-the art metagenomics. Cheese was made from (A) raw goat milk without the addition of starters; (B) pasteurised goat milk without the addition of starters; (C) pasteurised milk with the addition of starters. The type and counts of microorganisms were mainly influenced by ripening time; microbial counts for lactic acid bacteria were predominant and remained stable with little or no variation throughout ripening. Coliforms and coagulase positive staphylococci declined during ripening and at the end of ripening the staphylococci were not detected. Yeasts were detected at low counts but in great diversity throughout ripening. Metagenomics analysis confirmed the results obtained by the classical microbiological analysis. The physicochemical parameters during ripening were also determined; at 60 days the pH value and moisture, fat, protein, ash, and salt contents did not significantly differ amongst cheese types.

Microbiota of Sardinian Goat's Milk and Preliminary Characterization of Prevalent LAB Species for Starter or Adjunct Cultures Development.

This work was performed to study the microbiota of raw goat's milk (67 samples) collected in different areas of Sardinia, in order to select autochthonous lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains for use in goat cheese manufacturing. Total mesophilic bacteria ranged between 105 and 107 cfu/mL; mean counts of Enterobacteriaceae did not exceed 4 log cfu/mL whereas those of E. coli and coagulase-positive staphylococci were lower than 1.5 and 2 log ufc /ml, respectively. Neither Salmonella spp. nor Listeria monocytogenes were recovered. The numbers of total LAB were in the range from 104 to 107 cfu/mL and mean yeasts counts varied between 103 and 105 cfu/mL. The most frequently isolated LAB species were Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis and Lactobacillus paracasei. The presence of Enterococcus faecium was also noteworthy. The in vitro study of some functional characteristics related to technological properties of the strains belonging to these species allowed to point out some strains possessing good potential for use as adjunct or starter cultures in the production of cheese.

Quantitatively determining the total bacterial count of raw goat milk using dielectric spectra

The objective of this study was to evaluate dielectric spectra as a means of quantitatively determining total bacterial count (TBC) of raw goat milk. The dielectric spectra, including dielectric constant (ε') spectra and dielectric loss factor (ε″) spectra, and TBC of 154 raw goat milk samples were measured using network analyzer and plate count methods, respectively. Owing to the poor linear relationship between TBC in logarithm and permittivities at a single frequency, chemometrics was used to reduce noise, identify outliers, select effective variables, and divide sample sets. Several linear models, such as multiple linear regression, ridge regression, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, were established to determine TBC based on the effective spectra of ε', ε″, and their combination (ε'+ε″). The results indicated that the models built using the spectra of ε'+ε″ and ε' had excellent TBC prediction performance. The best model was multiple linear regression based on ε'+ε″ spectra with the residual predictive deviation of 3.26. This study shows that the dielectric spectra had great potential to quantitatively and rapidly determine TBC of raw milk.

Evaluation of the Physicochemical Quality of Raw Bovine and Goat Milk Marketed in the Steppic Region of Djelfa (Algeria)

This research was conducted to study the key physicochemical parameters of samples of raw bovine and goat milk collected in the steppic region of Djelfa. One hundred and six samples of raw milk were collected from April 2018 to May 2018, at points of sale and analyzed. The results showed that cow’s milk had 3.66±0.89% fat, 11.4±1.56% solid not fat, 4.35±0.61% protein, 6.35±0.89% lactose and a density of 1.0360±0.0056 with a freezing point of -0.380±0.053 °C. While goat’s milk had 3.43±0.65% fat, 10.2±0.92% solid not fat, 3.88±0.36% protein, 5.66±0.52% lactose and a density of 1.0317±0.0035 with a freezing point of -0.348±0.044 °C. This proves that cow’s milk has a slightly higher physicochemical quality than goat’s milk. In addition, the present study showed that 100% raw goat milk is wet against 97.1% raw bovine milk. This indicates the presence of cases of fraud requiring disciplinary procedures. Moreover, in the majority of the cases, the storage temperatures of the milk far exceed the values recommended by the Algerian standards (+6°C). It is necessary to establish a program of control and popularization of all the actors of the sector in order to improve the quality and the quantity of raw milk produced.

Effects of the inclusion of detoxified argan press cake in the diet of dairy goats on milk production and milk quality

This study was carried out to assess the effect of the incorporation of detoxified argan press cake on milk yield, physicochemical composition, and microbial quality of raw Alpine goat milk produced in the Meskala-Essaouira region of southwestern Morocco. The detoxification method, adopted for the removal of saponin present in the argan press cake, succeeded in reducing these antinutrients from 4.56 to 0.4 mg/g, allowing it to be used as livestock feed. The average of milk production increased by 24% for the detoxified argan press cake (DAPC) group compared to the argan press cake and local diet groups. The diets and lactation stages had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on fat, protein, total solids, and salt in milk. Lactation stage and diet also had a significant effect (P < 0.001) on saponin concentrations in goat milk. Microbiological analysis showed that microbial flora of raw goat milk samples decreased with lactation stage. In terms of performance, DAPC could replace a conventional diet for goats without substantial detrimental effects.

Risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and seroprevalence for brucellosis in pregnant women exposed to goats or raw goat products in southern Thailand: a prospective cohort study

BackgroundPregnant women infected with brucellosis have been shown to have higher odds of having been exposed to goats and raw goat products and adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, information on these associations in asymptomatic pregnant women is limited, particularly in the brucellosis-endemic areas. This study aimed to assess the association of a history of exposure to goats and/or raw goat products and the serological status of anti-Brucella abortus immunoglobulin G (IgG) with adverse pregnancy outcomes among pregnant women, and explore factors associated with having exposure to goats and/or raw goat products.MethodsA prospective cohort study was conducted among pregnant women from July 2015 to July 2016 at Songkhla province in southern Thailand. All pregnant women who came for antenatal care (ANC) visits were approached. Blood samples from the women who agreed to participate were randomly tested for anti-Brucella abortus IgG. The women were then followed for adverse pregnancy outcomes.ResultsOf 666 pregnant women, the majority (74.4%) were aged 20–34 years and Muslim (89.2%), 30.6% indicated exposure to goats or raw goat products, and 17.3% had adverse pregnancy outcomes. Women rearing goats at home or having neighbors rearing goats were more likely to be exposed to goats or raw goat products by cutaneous contact. Of 465 women having a blood test, 3.7% had seropositive results for anti-Brucella abortus IgG. No association with adverse pregnancy outcomes was found in the women reporting any exposure to goat and raw goat products. Having the first ANC visit at the first trimester and history of preterm birth or low birth weight newborn were independent risk factors of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Women who had positive serological results were more likely to have a history of drinking raw goat milk than those who had negative results significantly.ConclusionsAlthough no association between past exposure with goats and raw goat products and adverse pregnancy outcomes was found, women with past exposure showed positive anti-Brucella abortus IgG. Counseling on avoiding consumption of raw goat milk would be beneficial to prevent goat-related infection in pregnant women in this area.

Contribution of autochthonous lactic acid bacteria to the typical flavour of raw goat milk cheeses

In this study, a collection of 298 wild strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from raw goat milk cheeses, belonging to 8 genera and 24 species, was investigated for their ability to generate volatile compounds. Sensory evaluation showed that goat milk cultures of Leuconostoc and Lactococcus strains reached the highest scores for dairy odour attributes. Fifty six LAB strains with the highest sensory evaluation scores (one per each ten, or fraction, of those belonging to the same species) were selected for gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis. A total of 34 volatile compounds (five carboxylic acids, eleven alcohols, six aldehydes, six ketones, one ester, and five miscellaneous compounds) were detected in lactic curds made with each one of 56 selected LAB strains. The number of volatile compounds in individual curds varied from 15 to 33 while the total abundance of volatile compounds in individual curds ranged from 1.98- to 17.50-fold the total abundance in uninoculated curd. Major differences in volatile generation were related to amino acid catabolism.

Validation of a gold standard method for iodine quantification in raw and processed milk, and its variation in different dairy species

Adequate milk consumption significantly contributes to meeting the human iodine recommended daily intake, which ranges from 70 µg/d for infants to 200 µg/d for lactating women. The fulfilment of iodine recommended daily intake is fundamental to prevent serious clinical diseases such as cretinism in infants and goiter in adults. In the present study iodine content was measured in raw and processed commercial cow milk, as well as in raw buffalo, goat, sheep, and donkey milk. Iodine extraction was based on 0.6% (vol/vol) ammonia, whereas iodine detection and quantification were carried out through an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer analyzer. Among processed commercial cow milk, partially skimmed pasteurized milk had the greatest iodine content (359.42 µg/kg) and raw milk the lowest (166.92 µg/kg). With regard to the other dairy species, the greatest iodine content was found in raw goat milk (575.42 µg/kg), followed by raw buffalo (229.82 µg/kg), sheep (192.64 µg/kg), and donkey milk (7.06 µg/kg). Repeatability of milk iodine content, calculated as relative standard deviation of 5 measurements within a day or operator, ranged from 0.96 to 1.84% and 0.72 to 1.16%, respectively. The overall reproducibility of milk iodine content, calculated as relative standard deviation of 45 measurements across 3 d of analyses and 3 operators, was 4.01%. These results underline the precision of the proposed analytical method for the determination of iodine content in milk.

Characteristics of ripened Tronchón cheese from raw goat milk containing legally admissible amounts of antibiotics

The aim of this study was to evaluate the transfer of the most widely used antibiotics in dairy goats from milk to cheese as well as their effect on the cheese-making process and cheese characteristics during ripening. Antibiotic-free milk was spiked individually with 7 veterinary drugs (amoxicillin, benzylpenicillin, cloxacillin, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, and oxytetracycline) at an equivalent concentration of the European Union maximum residue limit. Spiked goat milk was used to make mature Tronchón cheeses, which were analyzed at 0, 30, and 60 d of maturation to determine pH, chemical composition, proteolytic and lipolytic activities, and color and textural properties. A sensory evaluation of 60-d ripened cheeses was carried out. Cheeses from raw antibiotic-free goat milk were made simultaneously to be used as reference. The cheese-making process was unaffected by the presence of most antibiotics evaluated. Only erythromycin and oxytetracycline significantly increased the time required for cheese production (122 ± 29 and 108 ± 25 min, respectively). However, variable amounts of antibiotics, ranging from 7.4 to 68%, were transferred from milk to cheese, with oxytetracycline and quinolones showing the highest retention rates. In general, antibiotic residues present in the cheeses at the beginning of maturation decrease significantly along time. Thus, β-lactams and erythromycin residues were not detectable after 30 d of ripening. However, relatively high concentrations of enrofloxacin (148 ± 12 µg/kg) and ciprofloxacin (253 ± 24 µg/kg) residues were found in the cheeses after 60 d of maturation. The quality characteristics of the Tronchón cheeses were only slightly affected by such substances, with few significant differences in the free fatty acid concentration and color and textural properties of the cheeses. Results herein indicate that the use of goat milk containing antibiotics, such as quinolones, at the European Union maximum residue limit for cheese production could adversely affect the safety of the final products because relatively high concentrations of these substances could be retained in soft and semi-mature cheeses, making it necessary to assess the risk for consumer health. Studies on the partition of the antibiotic substances during cheese-making, using specific technologies, would be convenient to guarantee the safety of cheese and related products.

Characterization of Acinetobacter spp. from raw goat Milk

ABSTRACT: Goat’s milk has been suggested as an alternative to cow’s milk, being a better digestible and hypoallergenic option. However, the presence of contaminating bacteria may significantly affect the safety of the product. In this research, we reported the isolation and characterization of Acinetobacter spp. isolates from raw goat milk samples purchased in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Twenty-one samples were analyzed and ten isolates of Acinetobacter spp. were obtained. Six were identified as A. guillouiae, three as A. ursingii, and one as A. bereziniae. These isolates were characterized and eight showed proteolytic activity, seven showed lipolytic activity, and five isolates were able to produce both enzymes. None of the isolates was biofilm producer. However, when the production of antibiotic resistance enzymes KPC and ESBL were investigated, all isolates presented ESBL-positive phenotype, while eight (80%) were KPC-positive. This research, therefore, demonstrated that raw goat’s milk can also be a source of Acinetobacter spp., which can produce important thermostable deteriorating enzymes and may play a role of reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes.

Milk from different species on physicochemical and microstructural yoghurt properties

ABSTRACT: The aim of the present research was to evaluate differences in chemical properties and physical structure of yoghurt produced with milk from different species (sheep, cow, and goat). For each trial, whole raw sheep (S), cow (C), and goat (G) milk were used to manufacture 4L of yoghurts (Y) from each species (SY, CY, and GY, respectively). The SY demonstrated the greatest (P&lt;0.05) values of total solids, protein, and lipid contents, reflecting on greater (P&lt;0.05) firmness, apparent viscosity and water-holding capacity, and lower (P&lt;0.05) syneresis index than CY and GY. Consequently, SY exhibited a more compact microstructure and homogeneous matrix with fewer pores. Furthermore, CY and GY microstructure contained a greater number of pores, which exhibited greater size heterogeneity than SY. Therefore, based on the evaluated physicochemical and microstructural properties of yoghurt, SY demonstrated the most desirable parameter values for dairy industry representing an alternative substitution for cow’s milk yogurt.

Chemical and mineral composition of raw goat milk as affected by breed varieties available in Malaysia

ABSTRACTThe chemical (proximate, amino acid, fatty acid) and mineral composition of raw goat milk from British Alpine, Jamnapari, Saanen, Shami, and Toggenburg breed (n= 30) were investigated. The results showed a significant difference (p< .05) on the chemical and mineral composition between the breeds. Principal component analysis (PCA) grouped the breeds into three groups; Jamnapari, Saanen and Shami, British Alpine and Toggenburg. This study showed that chemical and mineral composition of goat milk can be used as the criteria to classify goat breeds. These findings were important for goat breeder and manufacturer of goat milk to improve their products using breed selection.

TBE in Bulgaria

First cases of probable tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) were reported in 1961 by Andonov et al. in eastern regions of Bulgaria.1 Possible TBE cases with the typical biphasic course, originating from consumption of raw goat milk, were described back in 1953 by Vaptzarov et al. in southern Bulgaria.