Physico-Chemical Analysis and Microbiological Quality of Raw Camel Milk Produced by Targui breed in Adrar region of Algeria

Abstract

The camel milk constitutes an important component of human diet in several arid and semi-arid regions of South of Algeria. Its plays a vital role in the food of the Algerian nomads in the Sahara, it is also used for therapeutic purpos-es. The aim of this study was to determine the yield during lactation period, composition of raw camel milk and to determine the main objective of drink-ing this milk raw by citizens. For these purposes, 25 multiparous camels of the race Targui, kept under grazing in South of Algeria, Adrar were used in this study. A total of 50 milk samples were collected and analyzed through standard procedures to determine yield, physicochemical parameters of milk such as pH, acidity, density, fat, lactose, ash and total solids, microbiological analysis and Biochemical analysis. The results demonstrated that the overall means of daily milk yield were 5.94 L/j. 80% of buyers consume this product raw for therapeutic interests including 55% against diabetes, 22% against hepatitis and gastric problems and 5% against cancer. The composition of pH, acidity, density, fat, protein, lactose, total dry extract, minerals, freezing point, vitamin C, electrical conductivity and determination of antibiotics were respectively (6.24 to 6.86), (15.5°D to 18.4°D), (1022 to 1033.8), (28 to 35.1 g/L), (31.7 to 33.1 g/L), (46.4 to 48.4 g/L), (116.6 to 126 g/L), (6 to 6.9 g/L), ( -0.469 to -0.494°C), (29 to 39 mg/L), (6.08 to 6.16 mS/cm) and complete absence of antibiotics. The most parameters of camel milk composition were affected by stages of lactation. The highest milk yield was recorded at the mid stage of lactation (3 to 5 months). The results of microbiological analysis showed that camel milk has generally a comparable composition to that of bovine milk. The microbiological results of the 50 samples of camelina milk have several microbial attributes of quality in (CFU/mL) such as TPC (1.6.103 to 4.4.103), total coliforms (4 to 1.5.102), faecal coliforms less than 6, staphy-lococcus aureus and yeasts and moulds less than 2.102 and the absence of salmonella and clostridium sulfitoreducators. These tests confirm the good microbiological quality, which indicates the good health of the camels and the hygiene of the milking.