The aim of this trial was to evaluate the effect of water bath low temperature long time pasteurization (65°C 30 min-1) and freezing (-18°C) followed by one-week storage (-18°C) on the physical-chemical characteristics of goat milk. Fifteen individual milk samples were analyzed before and after being processed by the producer himself. Thermal processing applied was efficient for reducing mesophilic, psychrotrophic, molds and yeasts contamination, even though the low total and fecal coliform counts in raw milk did not allow the same statement considering that bacteria group. Thermal processing had no significant influence on the main constituents' concentrations or on the analyzed physical-chemical properties. The results obtained in this study also showed that infrared equipment calibrated with cow milk could be used for fat and protein determinations in goat milk.
composition; goat; infrared; microbiology; milk; processing
