Quality and composition of milk with different somatic cell count of two breeds of dairy goats

The study compared the physio-chemical and fatty acid composition of goat milk samples having a normal increased and somatic cell count (SCC) in two breeds: the Saanen breed and local crossbreed of Lithuania. Forty foremilk samples were analyzed. The overall mean SCC count in high-level SCC groups of goat milk in the Saanen breed and local crossbreed was 3726x10(3) cells/ml and 4270x10(3)cells/ml, respectively; both breeds demonstrated low levels of SCC groups: 398x10(3) cells/ml. The results revealed that mammary gland inflammations affected the fat, lactose, casein, total solids, and total acidity levels in the milk of Saanen breed goats. These parameters decreased and the amount of whey proteins and active acidity increased. The amount of fat and total solids decreased significantly (P<0.01) when SCC level was higher. Lactose content and total acidity decreased and whey protein increased in milk samples with higher levels of SCC in local crossbreed goats (P>0.05). The results clearly demonstrate that sub-clinical mastitis affected the fat composition of milk in both Saanen and local crossbreed goats. The difference between the amount of fatty acids in high SCC and low SCC groups in the breeds was insignificant (P>0.05). The average amount of saturated fatty acids was higher in milk with increased SCC in the Saanen breed, but lower in the local crossbreed. The average amount of unsaturated fatty acids was lower in milk with high levels of SCC in the Saanen breed, but tended to be higher in the local crossbreed. The differences in the amount of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in milk fat of high SCC and low SCC groups were not statistically significant (P>0.05). No major differences were observed between the physico-chemical and fatty acid composition of milk of both breeds.