Some quality attributes of milk from West African Dwarf, Kalahari Red and Kalawad Goats

Abstract

Overdependence on cow milk has been stated as one of the constraints to meeting domestic milk production in Nigeria. This study evaluated the physicochemical properties of milk from West African Dwarf (WAD), Kalahari Red, Kalawad goats and milk blend of WAD and cow milk (1:1), while cow milk served as control. The physicochemical properties of the milk samples were determined using standard laboratory procedures. Moisture, protein, fat, total solids and ash contents of raw milk samples ranged from 85.40-87.28%, 2.44-4.34%, 7.16-7.91%, 12.73-14.61% and 0.70-0.87%, respectively. Cow milk had protein content of 2.44% while WAD goat milk had protein content of 4.34%. Substitution of cow milk with milk from WAD goat at 1:1 increased the protein content of the milk blend (3.03%) as compared to whole cow milk (2.44%). Compared to cow milk, milk from the goat breeds had higher protein, ash and total solids content.

Keywords: Goat-breeds, goat-milk, protein, rural-households