A total of 359 milk samples, obtained from 28 goats, milked twice daily during the months of October 1998 to February 1999, and 150 samples, obtained from the same 28 animals, milked once daily during the months of March to July 1999, were analyzed for chlorides content. The concentration of chloride in milk increased during the lactation in the samples obtained from animals milked twice a day. The concentration of chlorides in samples from morning milking, obtained at early and middle of lactation, were, respectively, 0.175g/100ml, and 0.211g/100ml of milk. For samples from afternoon milking, obtained at early and middle of lactation, the concentration of chlorides in milk were, respectively, 0.183g/100ml and 0.217g/100ml of milk. For samples obtained from goats milked once daily, there was an increase of chlorides concentration from early toward the end of lactation. Different stages of lactation resulted in different concentration of chlorides in milk (P<0.01). Because of the influence of stage of lactation in the composition, and the higher concentration of chlorides, when compared to bovine milk, these results show the need for establishment of compositional standards for goats’ milk.
Goat; milk; stage of lactation; chloride; milking
