Effect of goat milk composition on cheesemaking traits and daily cheese production

Cheese yield is strongly influenced by the composition of milk, especially fat and protein contents, and by the efficiency of the recovery of each milk component in the curd. The real effect of milk composition on cheesemaking ability of goat milk is still unknown. The aims of this study were to quantify the effects of milk composition; namely, fat, protein, and casein contents, on milk nutrient recovery in the curd, cheese yield, and average daily yield. Individual milk samples were collected from 560 goats of 6 different breeds. Each sample was analyzed in duplicate using the 9-laboratory milk cheesemaking assessment, a laboratory method that mimicked cheesemaking procedures, with milk heating, rennet addition, coagulation, curd cutting, and draining. Data were submitted to statistical analysis; results showed that the increase of milk fat content was associated with a large improvement of cheese yield because of the higher recovery of all milk nutrients in the curd, and thus a higher individual daily cheese yield. The increase of milk protein content affected the recovery of fat, total solids, and energy in the curd. Casein number, calculated as casein-to-protein ratio, did not affect protein recovery but strongly influenced the recovery of fat, showing a curvilinear pattern and the most favorable data for the intermediate values of casein number. In conclusion, increased fat and protein contents in the milk had an effect on cheese yield not only for the greater quantity of nutrients available but also for the improved efficiency of the recovery in the curd of all nutrients. These results are useful to improve knowledge on cheesemaking processes in the caprine dairy industry.     

A comparison of the composition, coagulation characteristics and cheesemaking capacity of milk from Friesian and Jersey dairy cows

Twenty-nine multiparous cows of each of the Jersey and Friesian breeds, all kappa-casein AB phenotype, were grazed together and managed identically. On three occasions during 10 d in spring (early lactation), milk was collected from all cows at four consecutive milkings and bulked according to breed. On a separate occasion, milk samples were also collected from each cow at consecutive a.m. and p.m. milkings to form one daily sample per cow. The bulked milks (800-1000 l per breed on each occasion) were standardized to a protein:fat (P:F) ratio of 0.80, and 350 l from each breed was made into Cheddar cheese. The solids content of the remaining Friesian milk was then increased by ultrafiltration to a solids concentration equal to that of the Jersey milk. This solids-standardized Friesian milk and a replicate batch of P:F standardized Jersey milk were made into two further batches of Cheddar cheese in 350-l vats. Compared with Friesian milk, Jersey milk had higher concentrations of most milk components measured, including protein, casein and fat. There were few difference in milk protein composition between breeds, but there were differences in fat composition. Friesian milk fat had more conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) than Jersey milk fat. Jersey milk coagulated faster and formed firmer curd than Friesian milk. Concentrations of some milk components were correlated with coagulation parameters, but relationships did not allow prediction of cheesemaking potential. Jersey milk yielded 10% more cheese per kg than Friesian milk using P:F standardized milk, but for milks with the same solids concentration there were no differences in cheese yield. No differences in cheese composition between breeds were detected. Differences in cheesemaking properties of milk from Jerseys and Friesians were entirely related to the concentrations of solids in the original milk.     

Transfer of protein from milk to cheese

This report concerns measurement of paracasein in milk and transfer of protein from milk to cheese. In the main experiment, two vats of Cheddar cheese were made from each of 11 lots of milk from one large herd over a period of 7 mo. Exclusion of solutes from moisture in paracasein micelles in milk and cheese was central to estimation of paracasein and to the transfer of protein from milk to cheese and whey. Solute-exclusion by paracasein and its changes during cheesemaking could be visualized by considering paracasein micelles to be a very fine sponge. The sponge excludes solutes, especially the large solutes like whey proteins. The sponge shrinks during cheesemaking and expels solute-free liquid, thereby slightly diluting the whey surrounding the micelles inside the curd. Paracasein N in milk was calculated as the difference between total milk N and rennet whey N, the latter adjusted to its level in milk. Adjustment used appropriate solute-exclusion factors (h) of the protein fractions of whey and 1.08 for paracasein and associated salts. They were combined to give a factor Fpc, which adjusted the level of rennet whey N to its level in milk: 1.001 x (1 - 1.01 x FM/100 - Fpc x pc/100), where FM = fat in milk, pc = estimated paracasein, and 1.001 = dilution of milk by chymosin and CaCl2. The mean Fpc was 3.03. Differences in values were small among different procedures for calculating paracasein, but they are considered to be important because they represent biases, which, in turn, are important in analyses commercially. We conclude that solute exclusion by moisture in paracasein must have decreased during cheesemaking because the ratio of moisture to paracasein in the final cheese was 1.5, much less than the h of 2.6 for serum proteins by paracasein. Release of solute-excluding moisture from paracasein during cooking was likely the reason for lower total N in cheese whey than in the rennet whey in the paracasein analysis. Paracasein, estimated to be in cheese, curd fines, salted whey, and whey during cheddaring, was 98.21, 0.20, 0.25 and 0.19%, respectively, of the paracasein in milk for a total of 98.85% (SD of 22 vats = 0.46); the location of the missing paracasein is not known. On the other hand, recovery of milk N in cheese and wheys was 99.92% (SD = 0.37%). Nitrogen in paracasein and its hydrolysis products in cheese was estimated to be 98.51% of total cheese N. Proteose-peptone from milk appeared not to be included with the paracasein in appreciable amounts. Some was apparently included with denatured serum proteins during Rowland fractionation of whey, perhaps as a coprecipitate. Measured paracasein would include fat globule membrane proteins in milk containing fat, and denatured whey proteins in heated milks. It was concluded that the method of measurement and the associated calculations are integral parts of the definition and quantification of paracasein in milk.     

Cheese yield,cheesemaking efficiency,and daily production of 6 breeds of goats

Little is known about the complex process of cheesemaking at the individual level of dairy goats because of the difficulties of producing a high number of model cheeses. The objectives of this work were (1) to study the cheesemaking ability of goat milk; (2) to investigate the variability of cheesemaking-related traits among different farms; (3) to assess the effects of stage of lactation and parity; and (4) to compare 6 breeds of goat (Saanen and Camosciata delle Alpi for the Alpine type; Murciano-Granadina, Maltese, Sarda and Sarda Primitiva for the Mediterranean type) for their cheesemaking ability. For each goat (n = 560) we studied (1) 8 milk quality traits (fat, protein, total solids, casein, lactose, pH, somatic cell score, and bacterial count); (2) 4 milk nutrient recovery traits (fat, protein, total solids, and energy) in curd; (3) 3 actual cheese yield traits (fresh cheese, cheese solids, and cheese water); (4) 2 theoretical cheese yield values (fresh cheese and cheese solids) and the related cheesemaking efficiencies; and (5) daily milk yield and 3 daily cheese yield traits (fresh cheese, cheese solids, and water retained in the curd). With respect to individual animal factors, farm was not particularly important for recovery traits or actual and theoretical cheese yield and estimates of efficiency, whereas it highly influenced daily productions. Parity of goats influenced daily cheese production, whereas DIM slightly affected recovery as well as percent and daily cheese yield traits. Breed was the most important source of variation for almost all cheesemaking traits. Compared with those of Alpine type, the 4 Mediterranean breeds had, on average, lower daily milk and cheese productions, greater actual and theoretical cheese yield, and higher recovery of nutrients in the curd. Among Alpine type, Camosciata delle Alpi was characterized by greater nutrients recovery than Saanen. Within the 4 Mediterranean types, the 3 Italians produced much less milk per day, with much more fat and protein and greater recovery traits than the Murciano-Granadina, resulting in greater actual cheese yield. Within the Italian breeds, milk from Sarda and Sarda Primitiva was characterized by lower daily yields, higher protein and fat content, and greater recoveries of nutrients than Maltese goats. These results confirmed the potential of goat milk for cheese production and could be useful to give new possibilities and direction in breeding programs.     

Standardisation of milk for cheesemaking at factory level

The percentage of milk fat recovered as cheese varies between 85 and 93 per cent, depending on the system used, and this must be taken into account when the casein to fat ratio of milk for cheesemaking is selected. Seasonal variation in the composition of milk protein can have a significant influence on the potential cheese yield. Prolonged storage of milk may cause casein losses while heat precipitation can facilitate the incorporation of whey proteins in cheese curd. The economic consequences of seasonal variations in Ireland on the price of milk for cheesemaking are discussed. The economics of standardisation may be marginal, but it is a useful aid in achieving uniform cheese quality.     

Prediction of moisture in cheese of commercial production using neural networks

Control of cheese moisture is paramount to maximizing yield and profitability of a cheesemaking operation. Modeling and prediction of cheese moisture prior to pressing from a large industrial database for stirred-curd Cheddar cheese made with non-standardized and standardized milk was carried out using neural networks (NN). The number of model input variables was reduced by removing or combining some of them, based on cheesemaking knowledge and on the results of two tests estimating the impact of each model input. Input removal was carried out until the validation mean absolute prediction error (MAPE) increased. An initial NN cheese moisture model with 38 input process variables, coded as 57 NN inputs, was reduced to one with 21 input process variables, coded as 34 NN inputs. For the latter, the validation MAPE was 0.53% cheese moisture in a range of cheese moisture of 13.2%, and 0.51% for the best 25% of models (out of 100). For the range of operating conditions of the process in this study, four main groups of variables were found to be the most influential on the prediction of cheese moisture: cutting and subsequent stirring of the curd, curd rinsing temperature, starter quantity, activity and strain, and seasonal variation of milk composition. The NN model with the selected input variables and optimized number of hidden neurons was then used to predict cheese moisture for ranges of these variables. This study showed that NN models can successfully extract input–output variable relationships from industrial production data in spite of the inherent error in these data. The resulting NN models can be used both for research to develop the base of knowledge on production variables and their complex interactions, as well as for the prediction of cheese moisture.     

Effects of protein and fat levels in milk on Cheddar cheese yield

Over a 14-month period, bulk tank milk was collected twice a week and was adjusted with cream and skim milk powder to provide six levels each of fat and protein varying from 3·0 to 4·0%. Milk samples were analyzed for total solids, fat, protein, casein, lactose and somatic cell count and were used for laboratory-scale cheesemaking. Data obtained from the milk input and the cheese output were used to determine actual, moisture adjusted, theoretical yield, and efficiency of yield. Least squares analyses of data indicated that higher cheese yields were obtained from higher fat and protein contents in milk. Higher yield efficiency was associated with higher ratios of protein to fat and casein to fat. Regression analysis indicated that a percentage increase in fat content in milk resulted in an increase of 1·23–1·37% in moisture adjusted yield in the different protein levels. For a similar increase of protein in milk, there were 1·80–2·04% increase in moisture adjusted yields in different fat levels.     

Cottage Cheese from Ultrafiltered Skim Milk Retentates in Industrial Cheese Making

Ultrafiltered skim milk retentates were transported to a large industrial cottage cheese plant for milk supplementation leading to cottage cheese. The resulting industrial products were observed for composition, yields, whey component losses, and quality.Ten lots of small curd cottage cheese were made in vats containing up to 6593 kg skim milk. Retentate supplemented skim milks, concentrated approximately 10% (1.1:1) and 20% (1.2:1) in total protein, were very similar in initial composition to the controls. Mean cheese yield values from milks supplemented to 1.2:1 total protein were significantly higher than mean unsupplemented control milk values. Cheese yield efficiencies, per kilogram total solids, were also significantly higher in the retentate cheese but not when calculated per kilogram total protein.Total solids, total protein, and ash were higher in cottage cheese wheys from retentate supplemented cheese and were directly related to retentate supplementation concentration. Mean whey component loss per kilogram cheese exhibited significant decreases from milks of higher retentate supplementation. Retentate supplemented skim milk produced industrial cottage cheese of comparable quality to cheese made from unsupplemented control skim milks.     

Effect of milk preacidification on low fat mozzarella cheese. I. Composition and yield

The effect of milk preacidification with acetic or citric acid on the composition and yield of low fat Mozzarella cheese was determined. Two cheese manufacturing trials were conducted. In trial 1, three vats (230 kg of milk per vat) of cheese were made in 1 d using no preacidification (control) and preacidification to pH 6.0 and pH 5.8 with citric acid. In trial 2, four vats (230 kg of milk per vat) of cheese were made in 1 d using no preacidification (control), preacidification to pH 6.0 and 5.8 with acetic acid, and preacidification to pH 5.8 with citric acid. Cheese manufacture was repeated on three different days in trial 1 and four different days in trial 2 using a randomized-complete block design. Preacidification to pH 5.8 with citric acid decreased cheese calcium more than preacidification to pH 5.8 with acetic acid. Preacidification with citric acid in trial 1 decreased protein recovery in the cheese, and there was a trend for decreased protein recovery in the cheese for trial 2. Differences in fat recovery due to preacidification varied, sometimes being lower than the control other times being higher than the control. The reduction in calcium and protein recovery in the cheese caused by preacidification lowered composition adjusted cheese yield and yield efficiency. Yield efficiency was reduced by about 2.5 and 5.5%, respectively, with preacidification to pH 6.0 and 5.8 with citric acid. Yield efficiency was reduced by about 2.2 and 3.4%, respectively, with preacidification to pH 6.0 and pH 5.8 with acetic acid.     

Use of dry milk protein concentrate in pizza cheese manufactured by culture or direct acidification

Milk protein concentrate (MPC) contains high concentrations of casein and calcium and low concentrations of lactose. Enrichment of cheese milk with MPC should, therefore, enhance yields and improve quality. The objectives of this study were: 1) to compare pizza cheese made by culture acidification using standardized whole milk (WM) plus skim milk (SM) versus WM plus MPC; and 2) compare cheese made using WM + MPC by culture acidification to that made by direct acidification. The experimental design is as follows: vat 1 = WM + SM + culture (commercial thermophilic lactic acid bacteria), vat 2 = WM + MPC + culture, and vat 3 = WM + MPC + direct acid (2% citric acid). Each cheese milk was standardized to a protein-to-fat ratio of approximately 1.4. The experiment was repeated three times. Yield and composition of cheeses were determined by standard methods, whereas the proteolysis was assessed by urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and water-soluble N contents. Meltability of the cheeses was determined during 1 mo of storage, in addition to pizza making. The addition of MPC improved the yields from 10.34 +/- 0.57% in vat 1 cheese to 14.50 +/- 0.84% and 16.65 +/- 2.23%, respectively, in vats 2 and 3 and cheeses. The percentage of fat and protein recoveries showed insignificant differences between the treatments, but TS recoveries were in the order, vat 2 > vat 3 > vat 1. Most of the compositional parameters were significantly affected by the different treatments. Vat 2 cheese had the highest calcium and lowest lactose contencentrations. Vat 3 cheese had the best meltability. Vat 1 cheese initially had better meltability than vat 2 cheese; however, the difference became insignificant after 28 d of storage at 4 degrees C. Vat 3 cheese had the softest texture and produced large-sized blisters when baked on pizza. The lowest and highest levels of proteolysis were found in vats 2 and 3 cheeses, respectively. The study demonstrates the use of MPC in pizza cheese manufacture with improved yield both by culture acidification as well as direct acidification.     

Cheddar Cheese from Ultrafiltered Whole Milk Retentates in Industrial Cheese Making

Transporting whole milk retentates of ultrafiltration to a distant large industrial Cheddar cheese making site resulted in 16 lots of Cheddar cheese from vats containing 2,546 to 16,360 kg of cheese milk. Whole milk retentates concentrated by ultrafiltration to 4.5:1 were added to cheese milks to give mixtures concentrated 1.2:1 and 1.3:1 with approximately 20 and 30% more protein and fat, respectively, than in unsupplemented control whole milks or unsupplemented commercial reference milks.Gross composition of Cheddar cheese made from commercial reference, control, and retentate-supplemented milk generally showed no major differences. Yield increased in cheese made from retentate-supplemented milk. Yield efficiency per kilogram total solids rose in retentate cheese over controls but not among commercial reference, control, and retentate lots based on per kilogram fat or total protein. Milk components were higher in wheys from retentate cheeses, but loss of components per kilogram cheese obtained generally showed lower values in whey from retentate cheese.General quality of retentate Cheddar cheese was equal to that of reference unsupplemented commercial cheese and higher than unsupplemented control Cheddar cheeses. It appears technically feasible to ultrafilter milk at one site, such as the farm, collecting station, or specialized center, and transport it to an industrial site for Cheddar cheese making.     

A comparison of cheese yield and cheesemaking efficiency using seasonal and standardized milk

A study has been carried out on the efficiency of the cheesemaking process when Cheddar cheese was made from milk showing the normal seasonal trends in composition and from milk that had been standardized to a crude protein: fat ratio of 0.9. Standardization resulted in a small loss of yield from a standard volume of milk (averaged over a complete year), but this loss was compensated by an almost equal gain in the efficiency of fat retention.     

Yield of Cheddar cheese manufactured from milk concentrate by ultrafiltration

There are basically two methods by which the manufacture of cheese from milk concentrated by ultrafiltration can increase yields. Firstly, the procedure can increase the weight of certain water-soluble, solids-non-fat components (mainly whey proteins) in the cheese. This extra solids-non-fat may allow extra water to be incorporated into the product without a decline in quality. Secondly, if suitable equipment can be designed, manufacture of cheese from concentrated milk can lead to a reduction in the losses of insoluble casein, fat and fines. The present study suggests that with a fivefold concentration of milk by ultrafiltration, and with the same losses of insoluble casein, fat and fines as with conventional cheesemaking, the yield of Cheddar is increased by around 4.5%. About half this increase is due to water-soluble, solids-non-fat components; the remainder is due to water. With the elimination of all losses of insoluble casein and fines the gain in product is predicted to be around 6% while increases in the fat retention to 95% would bring the yield advantage to about 8%. However, it is suggested that the elimination of casein fines losses may be difficult to achieve in commercial-scale, ultrafiltration cheesemaking equipment and that reductions in fat percentages in the whey are of little financial advantage to companies that recover whey fat .     

Effect of milk protein standardization using different methods on the composition and yields of Cheddar cheese

Two sets of Cheddar cheese were made in which the milk protein level (%, wt/wt) was increased from 3.3 (Control A, CA) to 3.6 (set A) or from 3.3 (control B, CB) to 4.0 (set B) by the addition of phosphocasein (PC), milk protein concentrate (MPC), or freshly prepared ultrafiltered milk retentate (UFR). The cheeses were denoted CA, PCA, MPCA, and UFRA from set A, and CB, PCB, MPCB, and UFRB, from set B, respectively. The level of cheese moisture decreased significantly on increasing milk protein level from 3.3 to 3.6 or 4.0% (wt/wt), but was not affected significantly by the method of protein standardization. The percentage milk fat recovered to cheese increased significantly on increasing the level of milk protein from 3.3 to 3.6% (wt/wt) with PC, and from 3.3 to 4.0% (wt/wt) with PC, MPC, and UFR. Increasing milk protein level from 3.3 to 4.0% (wt/wt) with PC significantly increased the percentage of milk protein recovered to cheese. Actual cheese yield increased significantly with milk protein level. The yield of cheese per 100 kg of milk normalized to reference levels of fat (3.4%, wt/wt) and casein (2.53%, wt/wt) indicated no significant effects of protein content or standardization treatment on yield. However, the moisture-adjusted yield per 100 kg of milk with reference levels of fat and casein increased significantly on increasing the protein content from 3.3 to 3.6% (wt/wt) with MPC and from 3.3 to 4.0% (wt/wt) with PC, MPC, and UFR.     

Relationships between cheese-processing conditions and curd and cheese properties to improve the yield of Idiazabal cheese made in small artisan dairies: A multivariate approach

Very diverse cutting and cooking intensity processes are currently used in small artisan dairies to manufacture Idiazabal cheese. The combination of the technical settings used during cheese manufacturing is known to affect cheese composition and yield, as well as whey losses. However, the information regarding the effect on microstructure and texture of cheese is scarce, especially in commercial productions. Therefore, the effect of moderate- and high-intensity cutting and cooking processes on whey losses, curd-grain characteristics, microstructure and cheese properties, and yield were analyzed. Three trials were monitored in each of 2 different small dairies during the cheesemaking of Idiazabal cheese, which is a semihard cheese made from raw sheep milk. The role and know-how of the cheesemakers are crucial in these productions because they determine the cutting point and handle semi-automatic vats. The 2 dairies studied used the following settings: dairy A used moderate-intensity cutting and cooking conditions, and dairy B used high-intensity cutting and cooking settings. Multiple relationships between cheese-processing conditions and curd, whey, and cheese properties as well as yield were obtained from a partial least square regression analysis. An increased amount of fat and casein losses were generated due to a combination of an excessively firm gel at cutting point together with high-intensity cutting and cooking processes. The microstructural analysis revealed that the porosity of the protein matrix of curd grains after cooking and cheese after pressing was the main feature affected, developing a less porous structure with a more intense process. Moderate-intensity cutting and cooking processes were associated with a higher cheese yield, regardless of the longer pressing process applied. No significant differences were observed in cheese composition. After 1 mo of ripening, however, the cheese was more brittle and adhesive when the high-intensity cutting and cooking process was applied. This could be associated with the composition, characteristics, and size distribution of curd grains due to differences in the compaction degree during pressing. These results could help to modify specific conditions used in cheesemaking, especially improving the process in those small dairies where the role of the cheesemaker is crucial.     

Impact of low concentration factor microfiltration on milk component recovery and Cheddar cheese yield

The effect of microfiltration (MF) on the composition of Cheddar cheese, fat, crude protein (CP), calcium, total solids recovery, and Cheddar cheese yield efficiency (i.e., composition adjusted yield divided by theoretical yield) was determined. Raw skim milk was microfiltered twofold using a 0.1-microm ceramic membrane at 50 degrees C. Four vats of cheese were made in one day using milk at lx, 1.26x, 1.51x, and 1.82x concentration factor (CF). An appropriate amount of cream was added to achieve a constant casein (CN)-to-fat ratio across treatments. Cheese manufacture was repeated on four different days using a randomized complete block design. The composition of the cheese was affected by MF. Moisture content of the cheese decreased with increasing MF CF. Standardization of milk to a constant CN-to-fat ratio did not eliminate the effect of MF on cheese moisture content. Fat recovery in cheese was not changed by MF. Separation of cream prior to MF, followed by the recombination of skim or MF retentate with cream resulted in lower fat recovery in cheese for control and all treatments and higher fat loss in whey when compared to previous yield experiments, when control Cheddar cheese was made from unseparated milk. Crude protein, calcium, and total solids recovery in cheese increased with increasing MF CF, due to partial removal of these components prior to cheese making. Calcium and calcium as a percentage of protein increased in the cheese, suggesting an increase in calcium retention in the cheese with increasing CF. While the actual and composition adjusted cheese yields increased with increasing MF CF, as expected, there was no effect of MF CF on cheese yield efficiency.     

Effect of calcium on the minerals retention and cheesemaking parameters of milk

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of calcium on minerals retention and cheesemaking parameters of milk during manufacture of a model soft cheese. Several batches of both reconstituted skim milk containing 9, 12 and 15% (w/v) and whole milk with 12, 15 and 18% (w/v) of total solids were used to prepare a soft 'stretchable' cheese of the mozzarella type. A small amount of added calcium (0.14 mM) influenced the level of minerals and some of the measured cheesemaking parameters (clotting time, weight of whey, protein and fat recovery), but the efficiency of the cheesemaking process was lower than would be expected in commercial terms .     

Review of systems for monitoring curd setting during cheesemaking

This paper reviews the current state of development of various techniques for monitoring coagulum formation in cheesemaking, and the implications of recent research findings. The techniques, which have become available for on-line use on modern cheese vats include hot wire probes, vibrating probes and several types of optical probe. Recent research has focused on comparing the various techniques against a background of cheese manufacture from milk with seasonal variation. The findings indicate that on-line techniques can improve the consistency of coagulum at cutting in a modern cheese factory.     

Composition, coagulation properties and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese yield of Italian Brown and Italian Friesian herd milks

The authors report the results of a study aimed at the comparison of the basic chemical composition, the main protein fractions distribution, rennet coagulation properties and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese yield of vat milk from Italian Brown and Italian Friesian herds. Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese factories which manufacture milk separately from Italian Brown herds and Italian Friesian herds were used in the study. Thirteen cheesemaking trials were performed at 10 different commercial cheese factories. The study was carried out from March to October 2003. For each cheesemaking trial in each factory, approximately 1100 kg milk from Italian Brown cows and from Italian Friesian cows were processed in parallel. The animals involved in the study came from farms with comparable management practices, size, location, number of lactation and days in milking. Each vat contained milk obtained by combining milk collected during the evening milking (partially skimmed milk by natural creaming) and the following morning milking (full-cream milk), from at least 2 dairy herds. Milk from Italian Brown cows is characterised by a higher casein content (27.1 v. 23.7 g/kg; P < or = 0.0001) than Italian Friesian cows' milk. Curd firming time (k20) of Italian Brown cows' milk was markedly lower than that of Italian Friesian cows' milk (6.6 v. 10.0 min; P < or = 0.001). This implies a higher rate of aggregation of para-casein micelles for Italian Brown cows' milk. The coagulum of Italian Brown cows' milk had better rheological properties and lower losses of fat in the cheese whey. Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese yield at 24 h was also higher for Italian Brown cows' milk, + 0.99 kg cheese for every 100 kg vat milk.     

Invited review: A commentary on predictive cheese yield formulas

Predictive cheese yield formulas have evolved from one based only on casein and fat in 1895. Refinements have included moisture and salt in cheese and whey solids as separate factors, paracasein instead of casein, and exclusion of whey solids from moisture associated with cheese protein. The General, Barbano, and Van Slyke formulas were tested critically using yield and composition of milk, whey, and cheese from 22 vats of Cheddar cheese. The General formula is based on the sum of cheese components: fat, protein, moisture, salt, whey solids free of fat and protein, as well as milk salts associated with paracasein. The testing yielded unexpected revelations. It was startling that the sum of components in cheese was <100%; the mean was 99.51% (N × 6.31). The mean predicted yield was only 99.17% as a percentage of actual yields (PY%AY); PY%AY is a useful term for comparisons of yields among vats. The PY%AY correlated positively with the sum of components (SofC) in cheese. The apparent low estimation of SofC led to the idea of adjusting upwards, for each vat, the 5 measured components in the formula by the observed SofC, as a fraction. The mean of the adjusted predicted yields as percentages of actual yields was 99.99%. The adjusted forms of the General, Barbano, and Van Slyke formulas gave predicted yields equal to the actual yields. It was apparent that unadjusted yield formulas did not accurately predict yield; however, unadjusted PY%AY can be useful as a control tool for analyses of cheese and milk. It was unexpected that total milk protein in the adjusted General formula gave the same predicted yields as casein and paracasein, indicating that casein or paracasein may not always be necessary for successful yield prediction. The use of constants for recovery of fat and protein in the adjusted General formula gave adjusted predicted yields equal to actual yields, indicating that analyses of cheese for protein and fat may not always be necessary for yield prediction. Composition of cheese was estimated using a predictive formula; actual yield was needed for estimation of composition. Adjusted formulas are recommended for estimating target yields and cheese yield efficiency. Constants for solute exclusion, protein-associated milk salts, and whey solids could be used and reduced the complexity of the General formula. Normalization of fat recovery increased variability of predicted yields.