EFFECTS OF PROTEIN AND FAT LEVELS IN MILK ON CHEDDAR CHEESE YIELD

Over a 14-month period, bulk tank milk was collected twice a week and was adjusted with cream and skim milk powder to provide six levels each of fat and protein varying from 3.0 to 4.0%. Milk samples were analyzed for total solids, fat, protein, casein, lactose and somatic cell count and were used for laboratory-scale cheesemaking. Data obtained from the milk input and the cheese output were used to determine actual, moisture adjusted, theoretical yield, and efficiency of yield. Least squares analyses of data indicated that higher cheese yields were obtained from higher fat and protein contents in milk. Higher yield efficiency was associated with higher ratios of protein to fat and casein to fat. Regression analysis indicated that a percentage increase in fat content in milk resulted in an increase of 1.23-1.37% in moisture adjusted yield in the different protein levels. For a similar increase of protein in milk, there were 1.80-2.04% increase in moisture adjusted yields in different fat levels.