Determination of some Heavy Metals and Proximate Composition of Camel, Cow, Goat and Sheep Milk

Abstract

The study investigated the level of Zn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Cd, and the proximate composition of camel, cow, goat and sheep milk from Kasuwan Shanu market in Maiduguri, Borno State. Samples were collected during the early morning milking. Samples were digested by the optimized microwave digestion method using HNO₃ and H₂O₂ and analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer AA6800 series Shimadzu Corp. The proximate composition (ash, fibre, fat, Nitrogen free extract, protein and dry matter) was determined by AOAC Methods. Data were expressed as mean ± Standard error mean (SEM) and analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results showed that the concentrations of zinc, iron, copper and cadmium in milk of Camel, cow, goat and sheep were below the permissible limit set by World Health Organization (WHO). However, the concentration of nickel in goat milk was higher (1.15 ± 0.04) mg/L than the permissible limit (0.43) mg/L. The protein of milk of Camel (4.05 ± 0.13) mg/L was higher than that of cow (3.34±0.02) mg/L., goat milk (2.58±0.01) mg/L, and sheep milk (2.02±0.01) mg/L. camel milk had a significantly higher fat content (5.66±.10) as compared to cow milk (4.06±0.11) mg/L, goat (2.92±0.01) mg/L. and sheep milk (4.61±0.03) mg/L. Therefore, camel milk was found to be superior to cow, goat and sheep milk in terms of quality.