Cheese-making capacity of goat's milk during lactation: influence of stage and number of lactations

The effect of the stage and number of lactations on the technological properties and cheese-making capacity was studied in Murciano-Granadina goat's milk. Controls were done every month to evaluate the evolution of chemical composition and the values of the clotting properties which define the milk quality with regards to rennet curdling. The influence of the month of kidding was also evaluated. The average composition of the milk in the two kidding periods considered was as follows: fat 5.05% and 5.31%; protein 3.68% and 3.58%; casein 2.80% and 2.66%; lactose 4.71% and 4.68%, and dry matter 14.29% and 14.45%. No significant differences were found in the chemical composition due to the stage and lactation number; however, higher values of the protein fractions were determined in the first kidding period than in the second one. We determined that a higher casein concentration was associated with a lower milk clotting time and higher rate of firmness. We also found a highly significant (P < 0.001) correlation between titration acidity values and casein content (0.551). No significant differences, however, were found in cheese composition between kidding periods.