Effect of Season on Cow, Sheep and Goat Milk Composition in Mediterranean Climate Conditions

Abstract

In this study, it was aimed to examine the change of cow, sheep and goat milk composition in different seasons in Mediterranean Region climatic conditions. Cow milk samples were taken from the morning milking in summer and winter months from 10 Holstein cows of similar age and lactation period in a dairy farm with a capacity of 100 milking cows. The farm is fed with a feed mixture containing 40% alfalfa hay and 60% concentrated feed. Goat milk samples were taken from Aleppo goats. Between mid-May and mid-November, the goats go to pasture and are given 0.5 kg of dry grass and 1 kg of concentrated fodder, a vitamin and mineral mixture and salt blocks for licking. In the cooler months, when there is no pasture, the goats are provided with 2-3 kg of corn silage, 1 kg of beet silage, 1 kg of dry grass, a maximum of 1 kg of concentrated feed, vitamin mineral mixture and salt blocks. The goats were milked twice a day with a milking machine. The sheep from which milk samples were taken were kept in the barn, not sent to pasture during the lambing period. For the determination of milk composition, 100 mL milk samples were taken from the morning milking of sheep, goats and cows twice a week for 3 weeks. Variables such as acidity, density, fat content, non-fat dry matter determine the type characteristics of raw milk. In the analysis of cow's milk content, 12 milk contents were compared and 7 of them were significant and 5 of them were statistically insignificant. Goat and sheep milk the contents of the spring and summer samples differed significantly from each other statistically. Comparing the hot and cool month contents of sheep, goat and cow milk production that meets human milk needs, it has been observed that there is more variation in cow milk content than sheep and goat milk. moreover, milk samples were taken from enterprises producing in intensive conditions. It is understood that there is a need for regulations such as cooling and the use of balanced rations in hot months, as milk contents show differences compared to cool months.