The concentration of free fatty acids in goat milk as related to the stage of lactation, age and somatic cell count.

Abstract

The study aimed at determining the concentration of free fatty acids (FFA) and some chemical and physical traits of goat milk as related to the stage of lactation, age and somatic cell count (SCC). Used were 60 Polish White Improved goats. Diets were formulated according to the INRA standards and met all the individual nutritive requirements of goats. Milk samples were taken every month throughout the whole lactation. The highest level of FFA and fat content of milk was recorded in the last stage of lactation, in primiparous does and in milk with lowest SCC. However, in general, because the goats were free from suband clinical mastitis their milk was characterized by low level of FFA (<1.0 mEq/L), Thus, milk obtained from goats with healthy mammary glands was characterized by low susceptibility to lipolysis.