Gross composition of raw camel’s milk produced in Turkey

Abstract The composition and quality of goat milk is determined, but there is no similar studies on Turkish camel’s milk. Raw camel’s milk was collected from one-humped camels at a farm in western Turkey and evaluated for its physicochemical components and microbial properties. The dispersion of chemical composition values were found to be at similar levels in this study. However, they were lower than small amounts of monosaccharides such as fructose and glucose. Also, the camel’s milk was found to be a good source of zinc and vitamin C. The levels of yeast, mold, and coliform bacteria in the camel’s milk samples were low. Gas liquid chromatography analysis of milk fat showed that the predominant fatty acids were C16:0, C18:1, C14:0, C16:1 and C18:0. Saturated fatty acids average content was 59.33% and unsaturated fatty acids content was 40.74% of total fatty acids with low (2.12) atherogenic index (AI). The ratio of unsaturated/saturated acid (0.69%) was more favorable in these samples of Turkish camel’s milk compared with that of cow’s or goat’s milk as well as some other camel’s milk studies. The study’s results suggest that environmental and geographic conditions where camels are raised may cause variation in the composition of raw camel’s milk.

摘要 山羊乳的组成与品质已有定论，但目前尚无针对土耳其驼乳的同类研究。本研究从土耳其西部某农场的单峰驼（one-humped camels）采集生驼乳，对其理化成分与微生物特性进行分析。本研究中，各化学组成值的离散程度处于相近水平，不过其离散程度低于果糖、葡萄糖这类单糖的离散程度。此外，本研究发现驼乳是锌与维生素C的优质来源。驼乳样本中的酵母菌、霉菌与大肠菌群含量均处于较低水平。采用气相色谱法（gas liquid chromatography）对乳脂肪进行分析，结果显示主要脂肪酸为C16:0、C18:1、C14:0、C16:1及C18:0。总脂肪酸中，饱和脂肪酸平均占比为59.33%，不饱和脂肪酸占比为40.74%，动脉粥样硬化指数（atherogenic index, AI）仅为2.12，处于较低水平。与牛乳、山羊乳及其他部分驼乳研究中的样本相比，本研究中的土耳其驼乳样本的不饱和脂肪酸/饱和脂肪酸比值（0.69%）更为有益健康。本研究结果表明，骆驼养殖所处的环境与地理条件可能会导致生驼乳的组成产生差异。