Evaluation of Different Chemical and Physical Components of Milk in Cows, Buffalos, Sheep, and Goats

In recent years, the consumption of milk and dairy products has dramatically increased in several parts of the world. Different livestock plays an essential role in global milk production. This study was designed to evaluate different chemical and physical components of milk in four groups of livestock, including cows, buffalos, sheep, and goats. To this end, 200 raw milk samples were collected from cows, buffalos, sheep, and goats (n=50) across Dhi-Qar Governorate, Iraq, for a period of one year (from 01.10.2018 to 01.06.2019). The findings showed sheep and buffalos' milk samples had a significantly higher percentage of total solids (TS%), compared to cows and goats' milk samples (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the TS% between sheep and buffalos' milk samples. Furthermore, the mean TS% values in cows, buffalos, sheep, and goats' milk samples were determined at 11.14%, 12.87%, 13.26%, and 11.33%, respectively. As for fat percentage (F%), buffalos' milk samples had significantly higher F% (4.80%), compared to milk samples of cows, sheep, and goats (P<0.05). Additionally, sheep's milk samples had significantly higher F% (P<0.05) than cows and goats' milk samples determined at 2.78%, 4.20%, and 2.98%, respectively. The findings showed the percentage of solids not fat (SNF%) was significantly higher in sheep's milk (8.97%), compared to milk samples of cows, buffalos, and goats (P<0.05). Additionally, it was found that the SNF% was significantly higher (P<0.05) in Buffalos' milk samples, compared to cows and goats' milk samples determined at 8.36%, 8.60%, and 8.35%, respectively. Moreover, the results revealed that the percentage of milk protein content in sheep's milk was significantly higher than the cows, buffalos, and goats' milk (P<0.05). Recorded data also showed no significant differences in the percentage of milk lactose among cows, buffalos, sheep, and goats' milk samples (P<0.05). Furthermore, the findings illustrated that the percentage of milk ash (Ash%) in sheep's milk samples was significantly higher than the cows, buffalos, as well as goats' milk samples (P<0.05), and no significant differences were observed among cows, buffalos, and goats' milk samples in the Ash% (P<0.05). In addition, there were no significant differences in the specific gravity among different milk samples (P<0.05). Finally, the results displayed no significant differences between cows and goats' milk samples in all the studied traits (P<0.05).