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Biomedical subjects

D M Barbano

Publications and source records attributed to D M Barbano.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Impact of milk preacidification with CO2 on the aging and proteolysis of cheddar cheese.

To determine the influence of milk preacidification with CO(2) on Cheddar cheese aging and proteolysis, cheese was manufactured from milk with and without added CO(2). The experiment was replicated 3 times. Carbon dioxide (approximately 1600 ppm) was added to the cold milk, resulting in a milk pH of 5.9 at 31 degrees C in the cheese vat. The starter and coagulant usage rates were equal for the control and CO(2) treatment cheeses. The calcium content of the CO(2) treatment cheese was lower, but no difference in moisture content was detected. The higher CO(2) content of the treatment cheeses (337 vs. 124 ppm) was maintained throughout 6 mo of aging. In spite of having almost one and a half times the salt-in-moisture, proteolysis as measured by pH 4.6 and 12% trichloroacetic acid soluble nitrogen expressed as percentages of total nitrogen, was higher in the CO(2) treatment cheeses throughout aging. The ratio of alpha(s)-casein (CN) to para-kappa-CN decreased faster in the CO(2) treatment cheeses than in the control cheeses, especially before refrigerated storage. No difference was detected in the ratio of beta-CN to para-kappa-CN between the control and CO(2) treatment cheeses. Intact alpha(s)- and beta-CN were found in the expressible serum (ES) from the CO(2) treatment cheese as well as alpha(s1)-I-CN, but they were not detected in the ES from the control cheese. No CN was detected in the ES from the curd before the salting of either the control or CO(2) treatment cheese. Higher proteolysis in the cheese made from milk preacidified with CO(2) may have been due to increased substrate availability in the water phase or increased chymosin activity or retention in the cheese.

Animals↗

Influence of brine concentration, brine temperature, and presalting on early gas defects in raw milk pasta filata cheese.

Thirty-one 3.8-kg blocks of Ragusano cheese were made on each of 6 d starting with a different batch of raw milk on each day. On d 1, 3, and 5, cheeses were not presalted and on d 2, 4, and 6, all cheeses were presalted. Before brine salting, one of the 31 blocks of cheese was selected at random for analysis (i.e., at d 0). The remaining 30 blocks were randomly divided into 2 batches of 15 blocks each, one group was placed in 18% brine, and the other group was placed in saturated brine. For the 15 blocks within each of the 2 brine concentrations, 5 blocks each were placed in brine tanks at 12, 15, and 18 degrees C. Cheese blocks were sampled immediately before brine salting (d 0) and after 1, 4, 8, 16, and 24 d of brine salting. Presalting the curd with 2% added salt before stretching reduced the coliform count in the cheese by 1.41 log and resulted in a major reduction in early gas formation. Across all treatments in the present study, the average reduction in gas formation due to presalting was 75%. Reducing brine temperature had the second largest impact on reducing gas production, but did not reduce the coliform count in the cheese. Reducing brine temperature from 18 to 12 degrees C made a larger reduction in early gas formation in cheeses that were not presalted (from 6.8 to 1.8% gas holes, respectively) than in cheeses that were presalted (from 1.9 to 0.5% gas holes, respectively). To achieve the same absolute level of gas production in the nonpre-salted cheese as was achieved in presalted cheese in combination with 18 degrees C brine, the brine temperature for the nonpresalted cheese had to be lowered from 18 to 12 degrees C. Reducing brine concentration, although effective at increasing the rate of salt penetration into the block, did not have any impact on coliform count and had minimal impact on reducing gas production. The condition where reducing brine concentration was able to make a reduction in gas production was for cheeses that were not presalted and brined at 18 degrees C. Presalting is a very simple and practical approach to reducing the problem of early gas formation in combination with strategies to improve milk quality and cheese making conditions. Further work is needed to understand the impact of different levels of presalting on death of coliforms and gas production in the cheese.

Cheese↗

Influence of presalting and brine concentration on salt uptake by Ragusano cheese.

The impact of presalting and nonsaturated brine on salt uptake by Ragusano cheese was determined. The study included four treatments: 1) the traditional method using no presalting and saturated brine, 2) presalting and saturated brine, 3) no presalting and 18% brine for 8 d followed by 16 d in saturated brine, and 4) presalting and 18% brine for 8 d followed by 16 d in saturated brine. Cheese blocks were weighed and sampled before brine salting (time 0) and after 1, 4, 8, 16, and 24 d of brining for each treatment. Presalting delivered 60% of the normal level of salt in the center of the block prior to brine salting without decreasing the rate of uptake of salt from either saturated or 18% brine. Use of 18% salt brine for the first 8 d of 24 d of brine salting increased the rate of salt uptake, compared with 24 d in saturated brine. The increased rate of salt uptake with 18% brine compared with saturated brine was related to the impact of salt brine on the moisture content and porosity of the cheese near the surface of the block. Brine with higher salt content causes a rapid loss of moisture from cheese near the surface of the block. Moisture loss causes shrinkage of the cheese structure and decreases porosity, which impedes moisture movement out and salt movement into the block. The use of 18% salt brine for the first 8 d delayed the moisture loss and cheese shrinkage at the exterior of the block and allowed more salt penetration.

Cheese↗

Economic feasibility evaluation of microfiltration of milk prior to cheesemaking.

A nonlinear programming optimization model was used to evaluate the net revenues and potential profit-ability of microfiltration (MF) prior to cheesemaking in the 3-year period 1998 to 2000, using monthly milk price and composition data. The model identifies the optimal mix of milk resources and determines if MF cheesemaking produces a higher net revenue than conventional cheesemaking that uses NDM and condensed milk for fortification. This study demonstrates the potential of this model to evaluate new technologies in cheese manufacture and improve decision making in the cheese industry. The use of MF produced higher net revenues in 30 out of the 36 mo for both Cheddar and low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella, leading to an appreciable increase in net revenue (vs. conventional cheesemaking) for both cheeses. The benefit from MF in net revenue was greater when the cream price was high. The use of 3X MF yielded the same net revenue as 2X MF. An estimate of manufacturing costs of MF vs. conventional cheesemaking was also made. To this end, the yields of products were calculated by the optimization model, while the production cost of each product was estimated from data of two economic engineering studies and a MF cheesemaking trial. The manufacturing cost of MF Cheddar was slightly higher than the manufacturing cost of conventional Cheddar. However, the benefit in net revenue from the use of MF was estimated to be higher than the difference in manufacturing costs. Moreover, some advantages in the new coproducts of MF Cheddar could outweigh its higher manufacturing cost. The relationships between prices and recoveries of coproducts required to render MF profitable were identified.

Animals↗

Effect of temperature of CO2 injection on the pH and freezing point of milks and creams.

The objectives of this study were to measure the impact of CO2 injection temperature (0 degree C and 40 degrees C) on the pH and freezing point (FP) of (a) milks with different fat contents (i.e., 0, 15, 30%) and (b) creams with 15% fat but different fat characteristics. Skim milk and unhomogenized creams containing 15 and 30% fat were prepared from the same batch of whole milk and were carbonated at 0 and 40 degrees C in a continuous flow CO2 injection unit (230 ml/min). At 0 degree C, milk fat was mostly solid; at 40 degrees C, milk fat was liquid. At the same total CO2 concentration with CO2 injection at 0 degree C, milk with a higher fat content had a lower pH and FP, while with CO2 injection at 40 degrees C, milks with 0%, 15%, and 30% fat had the same pH. This indicated that less CO2 was dissolved in the fat portion of the milk when the CO2 was injected at 0 degree C than when it was injected at 40 degrees C. Three creams, 15% unhomogenized cream, 15% butter oil emulsion in skim milk, and 15% vegetable oil emulsion in skim milk were also carbonated and analyzed as described above. Vegetable oil was liquid at both 0 and 40 degrees C. At a CO2 injection temperature of 0 degree C, the 15% vegetable oil emulsion had a slightly higher pH than the 15% butter oil emulsion and the 15% unhomogenized cream, indicating that the liquid vegetable oil dissolved more CO2 than the mostly solid milk fat and butter oil. No difference in the pH or FP of the 15% unhomogenized cream and 15% butter oil emulsion was observed when CO2 was injected at 0 degree C, suggesting that homogenization or physical dispersion of milk fat globules did not influence the amount of CO2 dissolved in milk fat at a CO2 injection temperature of 0 degree C. At a CO2 injection temperature of 40 degrees C and at the same total CO2 concentration, the 15% unhomogenized cream, 15% vegetable oil emulsion, and 15% butter oil emulsion had similar pH. At the same total concentration of CO2 in cream, injection of CO2 at low temperature (i.e., < 4 degrees C) may produce a better antimicrobial effect during refrigerated shelf life due to the higher concentration of CO2 in the skim portion of the cream.

Animals↗

Serum protein and casein concentration: effect on pH and freezing point of milk with added CO2.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of protein concentration and protein type [i.e., casein (CN) and serum protein (SP)] on pH (0 degree C) and freezing point (FP) of skim milk upon CO2 injection at 0 degree C. CN-free skim milks with increasing SP content (0, 3, and 6%) and skim milks with the same SP content (0.6%) but increasing CN content (2.4, 4.8, and 7.2%) were prepared using a combination of microfiltration and ultrafiltration processes. CO2 was injected into milks at 0 degree C using a continuous flow carbonation unit (230 ml/min). Increasing SP or CN increased milk buffering capacity and protein-bound mineral content. At the same CO2 concentration at 0 degree C, a milk with a higher SP or a higher CN concentration had more resistance to pH change and a greater extent of FP decrease. The buffering capacity provided by an increase of CN was contributed by both the CN itself and the colloidal salts solublized into the serum phase from CN upon carbonation. Skim milks with the same true protein content (3%), one with 2.4% CN plus 0.6% SP and one with 3% SP, were compared. At the same true protein content (3%), increasing the proportion of CN increased milk buffering capacity and protein-bound mineral content. Milk with a higher proportion of CN had more resistance to pH change and a greater extent of FP decrease at the same carbonation level at 0 degree C. Once CO2 was dissolved in the skim portion of a milk, the extent of pH reduction and FP depression depended on protein concentration and protein type (i.e., CN and SP).

Animals↗

Sensory threshold of off-flavors caused by proteolysis and lipolysis in milk.

The objective of this study was to determine the sensory threshold of off-flavor caused by lipolysis in 2% fat milk and to establish the relationship between increased proteolytic activity in milk and the detection of bitter off-flavor. Homogenized raw milk was held at room temperature for 100 min to allow the native milk lipase to release free fatty acids from the triglycerides. Low and high lipolysis pasteurized milk containing 2% fat were blended together in varying amounts to create a series of six milks with increasing free fatty acid (FFA) concentration for sensory evaluation. Sensory threshold for lipolysis in 2% fat milk was determined by ascending forced-choice procedure, with a series of triangle tests in four sessions with 25 panelists in each session. The group best estimated threshold was the geometric mean of the individual thresholds within each of four panel sessions. The geometric mean best estimated detection thresholds for off-flavors caused by lipolysis in 2% fat milk carried out by native milk lipases were 0.320, 0.322, 0.351, and 0.316 meq of FFA/kg milk for panels 1 to 4, respectively. One third of the panelists detected an off-flavor at or below 0.250 meq of FFA/kg milk. To establish the relationship between proteolysis and detection of off-flavor in pasteurized skim milk, 2800 ppm of CO2 were added to pasteurized skim milk, and it was stored for 27 d at 6 degrees C. Another portion of the same milk was frozen on d 1 at -40 degrees C for use as a low proteolysis portion of the same milk. Decrease in casein as a percentage of true protein (CN/TP) was used as an index of proteolysis. After 27 d at 6 degrees C the milk had a decrease in CN/TP of 4.76% and a standard plate count of 430 cfu/ml. The novel approach of storing milk at 6 degrees C for 27 d with added CO2 blocked microbial growth but allowed proteolytic degradation by milk enzymes to proceed. Before sensory analysis, CO2 was removed by vacuum from the high proteolysis milk and the low proteolysis milk was given the same heat and vacuum. Two triangle tests were performed to determine whether panelists could detect off-flavors caused by proteolysis in milk. The threshold detection of off-flavor in skim milk produced by the action of native milk proteases was less than a decrease of CN/TP of 4.76%, but this value is probably near the threshold.

Animals↗

Effect of CO2 addition to raw milk on proteolysis and lipolysis at 4 degrees C.

Fresh raw milks, with low (3.1 x 10(4) cell/ml) and high (1.1 x 10(6) cells/ml) somatic cell count (SCC), were standardized to 3.25% fat, and from each a preserved (with 0.02% potassium dichromate) and an unpreserved portion were prepared. Subsamples of each portion were carbonated to contain 0 (control, pH 6.9) and 1500 (pH 6.2) ppm added CO2, and HCl acidified to pH 6.2 Milk pH was measured at 4 degrees C. For the preserved low- and high-SCC milks, two additional carbonation levels, 500 (pH 6.5) and 1000 (pH 6.3) ppm, were prepared. Milks were stored at 4 degrees C and analyzed on d 0, 7, 14, and 21 for microbial count, proteolysis, and lipolysis. The addition of 1500 ppm CO2, but not HCl, effectively delayed microbial growth at 4 degrees C. In general, in both the low- and high-SCC unpreserved milks, there was more proteolysis and lipolysis in control and HCl acidified milks than in milk with 1500 ppm added CO2. Higher levels of proteolysis and lipolysis in the unpreserved milks without added CO2 were related to higher bacteria counts in those milks. In preserved low- and high-SCC milks, microbial growth was inhibited, and proteolysis and lipolysis were caused by endogenous milk enzymes (e.g., plasmin and lipoprotein lipase). Compared with control, both milk with 1500 ppm added CO2 and milk with HCl acidification had less proteolysis. The effect of carbonation or acidification with HCl on proteolysis in preserved milks was more pronounced in the high SCC milk, probably due to its high endogenous protease activity. Plasmin is an alkaline protease and the reduction in milk pH by added CO2 or HCl explained the reduction in proteolysis. No effect of carbonation or acidification of milk on lipolysis was observed in the preserved low- and high-SCC milks. The CO2 addition to raw milk decreased proteolysis via at least two mechanisms: the reduction of microbial proteases due to a reduced microbial growth and the possible reduction of endogenous protease activity due to a lower milk pH. The effect of CO2 on lipolysis was mostly due to a reduced microbial growth. High-quality raw milk (i.e., low initial bacteria count and low SCC) with 1500 ppm added CO2 can be stored at 4 degrees C for 14 d with minimal proteolysis and lipolysis and with standard plate count < 3 x 10(5) cfu/ml.

Animals↗

Effect of somatic cell count on proteolysis and lipolysis in pasteurized fluid milk during shelf-life storage.

The general goal of this research was to provide fluid milk processors with data to enable them to estimate the economic benefits they might derive from longer fluid milk shelf-life or new marketing opportunities due to a reduction in raw milk SCC. The study objectives were: 1) to measure the time in days for pasteurized homogenized 2% milk to achieve a level of lipolysis and proteolysis caused by native milk enzymes present in milks of different somatic cell count (SCC) at 0.5 and 6 degrees C that would be sufficient to produce an off-flavor, 2) to determine whether milk fat content (i.e., 1, 2, and 3.25%) influences the level of proteolysis or lipolysis caused by native milk enzymes at 6 degrees C, and 3) to determine the time in days for milks containing 2% fat with different SCC to undergo sufficient lipolysis or proteolysis to produce an off-flavor due to the combination of the action of native milk enzymes and microbial growth at 0.5 and 6 degrees C. In experiment 1, pasteurized, homogenized milks, containing 2% fat were prepared from raw milk containing four different SCC levels from < 100,000 to > 1,000,000 cells/ml. Each of the four milks was stored at 0.5 and 6 degrees C for 61 d. In experiment 2, pasteurized, homogenized milks containing 1, 2, and 3.25% fat were prepared starting from two raw milks containing two different SCC levels, one < 100,000 and the other > 1,000,000 cells/ml. In experiment 3, pasteurized, homogenized 2% fat milks were prepared starting from raw milks containing two different SCC levels, one < 100,000 and the other > 1,000,000 cells/ml. For experiments 1 and 2, all milks were preserved with potassium dichromate to prevent microbial growth but to allow the activity of native milk proteases and lipases during storage. For experiment 3, one set of milk was preserved with potassium dichromate to prevent microbial growth but to allow the activity of native milk proteases and lipases, and a second set of milk was unpreserved during storage at 0.5 and 6 degrees C for 29 d. Based on previous work, an off-flavor due to proteolysis was detected by 50% of panelists when the decrease in casein as a percentage of true protein (CN/TP) was > 4.76%. Our data indicated (assuming 50% of consumers would detect an off-flavor when CN/TP decreases 5%) that pasteurized milk containing 2% fat would develop an off-flavor at a time long after 61 and at 54 d for the low SCC milk, and at about 54 and 19 d for the high SCC milk, at 0.5 and 6 degrees C, respectively. Previous research reported that 34% of panelists could detect an off-flavor in milk containing 2% fat due to lipolysis at a (free fatty acid) FFA concentration of 0.25 meq/kg of milk. Based on these results, it was estimated in the present study that 34% of panelists would detect an off-flavor in a 2% fat pasteurized milk with low SCC at a time long after 61 and just after 61 d at 0.5 and 6 degrees C, respectively, while for milk with high SCC, an off-flavor would be detected by 34% of panelists at slightly longer than 61 and 35 d at 0.5 and 6 degrees C, respectively. The combination of low SCC milk and low storage temperature when coupled with processing technology to produce very low initial bacteria count in fluid milk could produce fluid milk that will maintain flavor quality for more than 61 d of storage at temperatures < 6 degrees C.

Animals↗

Influence of the temperature of salt brine on salt uptake by Ragusano cheese.

The influence of temperature (12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 degrees C) of saturated brine on salt uptake by 3.8-kg experimental blocks of Ragusano cheese during 24 d of brining was determined. Twenty-six 3.8-kg blocks were made on each of three different days. All blocks were labeled and weighed prior to brining. One block was sampled and analyzed prior to brine salting. Five blocks were placed into each of five different brine tanks at different temperatures. One block was removed from each brine tank after 1, 4, 8, 16, and 24 d of brining, weighed, sampled, and analyzed for salt and moisture content. The weight loss by blocks of cheese after 24 d of brining was higher, with increasing brine temperature, and represented the net effect of moisture loss and salt uptake. The total salt uptake and moisture loss increased with increasing brine temperature. Salt penetrates into cheese through the moisture phase within the pore structure of the cheese. Porosity of the cheese structure and viscosity of the water phase within the pores influenced the rate and extent of salt penetration during 24 d of brining. In a previous study, it was determined that salt uptake at 18 degrees C was faster in 18% brine than in saturated brine due to higher moisture and porosity of the exterior portion of the cheese. In the present study, moisture loss occurred from all cheeses at all temperatures and most of the loss was from the exterior portion of the block during the first 4 d of brining. This loss in moisture would be expected to decrease porosity of the exterior portion and act as a barrier to salt penetration. The moisture loss increased with increasing brine temperature. If this decrease in porosity was the only factor influencing salt uptake, then it would be expected that the cheeses at higher brine temperature would have had lower salt content. However, the opposite was true. Brine temperature must have also impacted the viscosity of the aqueous phase of the cheese. Cheese in lower temperature brine would be expected to have higher viscosity of the aqueous phase and slower salt uptake, even though the cheese at lower brine temperature should have had a more porous structure (favoring faster uptake) than cheese at higher brine temperature. Therefore, changing brine concentration has a greater impact on cheese porosity, while changing brine temperature has a larger impact on viscosity of the aqueous phase of the cheese within the pores in the cheese.

Cheese↗

Production responses of dairy cows to dietary supplementation with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) during the transition period and early lactation.

Holstein cows (n = 30) entering second or greater lactation were fed fat supplements (90 g/d of fatty acids) consisting of Ca salts of either palm fatty acid distillate (control) or a mixture of palm fatty acid distillate and mixed isomers of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA, 30.4 g/ d) from 2 wk prepartum through 20 wk postpartum to determine whether CLA would inhibit milk fat synthesis during early lactation and, in turn, affect energy metabolism of dairy cows during the transition period and early lactation. Feeding CLA did not affect DMI or plasma concentrations of glucose, nonesterfied fatty acids, or beta-hydroxbutyrate during the prepartum period and did not affect postpartum DMI. Feeding CLA reduced milk fat content by 12.5% during early lactation; however, cows fed CLA tended to produce approximately 3 kg/d more milk during the first 20 wk of lactation. Feeding CLA tended to decrease the contribution of short- and medium-chain (C < or = 16) fatty acids to milk fat. Changes in milk yield, milk fat content, and milk fatty acid composition were not apparent until after the second week of lactation. Yield of 3.5% fat-corrected milk, milk protein content, milk protein composition, and calculated energy balance were not affected by treatment. Postpartum concentrations of glucose, nonesterfied fatty acids, and beta-hydroxbutyrate in plasma and hepatic content of glycogen and triglycerides were similar between treatments. These data imply that with CLA treatment in early lactation, dairy cows decreased milk fat synthesis and appeared to respond by partitioning more nutrients toward milk synthesis rather than improving net energy balance.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗

Milk pH as a function of CO2 concentration, temperature, and pressure in a heat exchanger.

Raw skim milk, with or without added CO2, was heated, held, and cooled in a small pilot-scale tubular heat exchanger (372 ml/min). The experiment was replicated twice, and, for each replication, milk was first carbonated at 0 to 1 degree C to contain 0 (control), 600, 1200, 1800, and 2400 ppm added CO2 using a continuous carbonation unit. After storage at 0 to 1 degree C, portions of milk at each CO2 concentration were heated to 40, 56, 72, and 80 degrees C, held at the desired temperature for 30 s (except 80 degrees C, holding 20 s) and cooled to 0 to 1 degree C. At each temperature, five pressures were applied: 69, 138, 207, 276, and 345 kPa. Pressure was controlled with a needle valve at the heat exchanger exit. Both the pressure gauge and pH probe were inline at the end of the holding section. Milk pH during heating depended on CO2 concentration, temperature, and pressure. During heating of milk without added CO2, pH decreased linearly as a function of increasing temperature but was independent of pressure. In general, the pH of milk with added CO2 decreased with increasing CO2 concentration and pressure. For milk with added CO2, at a fixed CO2 concentration, the effect of pressure on pH decrease was greater at a higher temperature. At a fixed temperature, the effect of pressure on pH decrease was greater for milk with a higher CO2 concentration. Thermal death of bacteria during pasteurization of milk without added CO2 is probably due not only to temperature but also to the decrease in pH that occurs during the process. Increasing milk CO2 concentration and pressure decreases the milk pH even further during heating and may further enhance the microbial killing power of pasteurization.

Animals↗

Chemometric analysis of Ragusano cheese flavor.

Ragusano cheeses were produced in duplicate from milk collected from pasture-fed and total mixed ration (TMR)-fed cattle at four time intervals. The cheeses were subjected to chemical analysis, conventional sensory testing, and gas chromatography-olfactometry (GCO). Data from each type of analysis were examined by principal component and factor analysis and by pattern recognition (SIMCA) to see if sufficient information for classification into pasture-fed and TMR-fed groups was contained therein. The results clearly indicate that there are significant differences in sensory panel and chemical analysis results between the two cheeses. The data were also examined to see if models of sensory responses as a function of analytical or GCO results or both could be constructed with the modeling technique partial least-squares regression (PLS). Strong PLS models of some sensory responses (green and toasted odor; salt, pungent, bitter, and butyric sensations; and smooth consistency) were obtained.

Animal Feed↗

Temperature-induced moisture migration in reduced-fat Cheddar cheese.

Moisture migration during cooling of 290-kg Cheddar cheese blocks is a problem. The problem is of greater magnitude in reduced and low fat varieties. The objective of this study was to design and evaluate the performance of a laboratory-scale apparatus for simulation of temperature induced moisture migration in 290-kg blocks of Cheddar cheese. Two apparati were designed to produce a systematic temperature gradient in small cheese slabs over a 36-h period to simulate the temperature gradient that develops during cooling of a 290-kg block. One of the apparati was designed to induce a moisture migration downwards with gravity and the other against gravity. The apparati produced moisture migration ranges of 9.7 and 6.4%, for the apparatus to induce moisture migration downwards and upwards, respectively. The moisture moved from areas of warm cheese to areas of cold cheese during cooling, as occurs in 290-kg blocks. These ranges were comparable to those obtained with 290-kg reduced-fat Cheddar blocks. In addition, small but significant differences in pH were created within slabs. The direct effect of the temperature gradient on moisture migration within cheese slabs appeared to be more important than the possible impact of the small pH gradient produced within the cheese by the temperature gradient.

Cheese↗

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.

Animals↗

Impact of low concentration factor microfiltration on the composition and aging of Cheddar cheese.

The effect of microfiltration (MF) on proteolysis, hardness, and flavor of Cheddar cheese during 6 mo of aging was determined. Raw skim milk was microfiltered two-fold in two cheese making trials. In trial 1, four vats of cheese were made in 1 d using unconcentrated milk (1X), 1.26X, 1.51X, and 1.82X concentration factors (CF). Casein-(CN)-to-fat ratio was constant among treatments. Proteolysis during cheese aging decreased with increasing CF due to either limitation of substrate availability for chymosin due to low moisture in the nonfat substance (MNFS), inhibition of chymosin activity by high molecular weight milk serum proteins, such as alpha2-macroglobulin, retained in the cheese or low residual chymosin in the cheese. Hardness of fresh cheese increased, and cheese flavor intensity decreased with increasing CF. In trial 2, the 1X and 1.8X CF were compared directly. Changes made in the cheese making procedure for the 1.8X CF (more chymosin and less cooking) increased the MNFS and made proteolysis during aging more comparable for the 1X and 1.8X cheeses. The significant difference in cheese hardness due to CF in trial 1 was eliminated in trial 2. In a triangle test, panelists could not differentiate between the 1X and 1.8X cheeses. Therefore, increasing chymosin and making the composition of the two cheeses more similar allowed production of aged Cheddar cheese from milk concentrated up to 1.8X by MF that was not perceived as different from aged Cheddar cheese produced without MF.

Animals↗

An empirical method for prediction of cheese yield.

Theoretical cheese yield can be estimated from the milk fat and casein or protein content of milk using classical formulae, such as the VanSlyke formula. These equations are reliable predictors of theoretical or actual yield based on accurately measured milk fat and casein content. Many cheese makers desire to base payment for milk to dairy farmers on the yield of cheese. In small factories, however, accurate measurement of fat and casein content of milk by either chemical methods or infrared milk analysis is too time consuming and expensive. Therefore, an empirical test to predict cheese yield was developed which uses simple equipment (i.e., clinical centrifuge, analytical balance, and forced air oven) to carry out a miniature cheese making, followed by a gravimetric measurement of dry weight yield. A linear regression of calculated theoretical versus dry weight yields for milks of known fat and casein content was calculated. A regression equation of y = 1.275x + 1.528, where y is theoretical yield and x is measured dry solids yield (r2 = 0.981), for Cheddar cheese was developed using milks with a range of theoretical yield from 7 to 11.8%. The standard deviation of the difference (SDD) between theoretical cheese yield and dry solids yield was 0.194 and the coefficient of variation (SDD/mean x 100) was 1.95% upon cross validation. For cheeses without a well-established theoretical cheese yield equation, the measured dry weight yields could be directly correlated to the observed yields in the factory; this would more accurately reflect the expected yield performance. Payments for milk based on these measurements would more accurately reflect quality and composition of the milk and the actual average recovery of fat and casein achieved under practical cheese making conditions.

Animals↗

A nonlinear programming optimization model to maximize net revenue in cheese manufacture.

A nonlinear programming optimization model was developed to maximize net revenue in cheese manufacture and is described in this paper. The model identifies the optimal mix of milk resources together with the types of cheeses and co-products that maximize net revenue. It works in Excel while it takes the data specified by the user from a user-friendly interface created in Access. The user can specify any number of resources, cheese types, and co-products. To demonstrate the capabilities of the model, we determined the impact of variation in milk price and composition in the period 1998 to 2000 on the optimal mix of resources and optimal type of co-product for Cheddar and low-moisture, part-skim Mozzarella. It was also desired to determine the impact of variation in protein content of nonfat dry milk (NDM) on net revenue, and examine the effect of reconstitution of NDM with water versus milk on net revenue. The optimal mix of resources and the net revenue markedly varied as milk resource prices and composition varied. The net revenue for Mozzarella was much higher than for Cheddar when the price of cream was high. Cheese plants that did not optimize the use of resources in response to variations in prices and composition missed a significant profit opportunity. Whey powder was more profitable than 34% whey protein concentrate and lactose in most months. The use of high-protein NDM led to an appreciable increase in net revenue. When the value of the nonfat portion of raw milk was high, reconstitution of NDM with water rather than milk markedly raised net revenue.

Cheese↗