Milk composition of Majaheim, Wadah and Hamra camels in Saudi Arabia

The chemical composition and nitrogen distribution of camel milk from three ecotype (Majaheim, Wadah and Hamra) camels, in the central region of Saudi Arabia, were studied. The average results for pH, and percentage acidity, total solids, fat, protein, lactose and ash for Majaheim were 6.63, 0.144, 11.35, 3.22, 2·91, 4·43 and 0·79, for Wadah they were 6·65, 0·14, 10·07, 2·46, 2·36, 4·44 and 0·81, and for Hamra they were 6·65, 0·137, 10·63, 2·85, 2·52, 4·46 and 0·80, respectively. The mean values (mg/100 ml) for nonprotein N (NPN), protein N, casein N and whey protein N for Majaheim were 44·6, 411, 300 and 112; for Wadah they were 38·1, 331, 244 and 87·6 and for Hamra they were 40·4, 354, 255 and 99·4, respectively. espect to mineral contents, the levels of Ca, Mg, P, Na and K of Majaheim, Wadah and Hamra camel milks were 120, 109 and 119, 13·0,12·4, and 11·6; 88·6, 83·5 and 90·1; 65·0, 73·4 and 64·6, and 135, 172 and 124 mg/100 g, respectively. However, the contents of Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn of Majaheim, Wadah and Hamra camel milk were similar, with some individual variations.