Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Raw Milk of One-Humped Camel from Khur and Biabanak in Isfahan Province of Iran

ABSTRACT: The aim of the present study was to investigate the physico-chemical quality of raw milk of one-humped camel coming from Khur and Biabanak known as a camel-rearing area located in Isfahan province of Iran. 500 milliliters of raw milk from thirty individual one-humped camels were randomly collected and subjected for proximate analyses indicating the amounts of total solid, protein, fat, lactose, ash, acidity and pH that were 11.24±0.41%, 4.61±0.5%, 2.72±0.54%, 3.05±0.4%, 0.86±0.07%, 0.12±0.002% and 6.52± 0.18 respectively. The mean values of calcium, zinc, magnesium, and iron were demonstrated to be equal in respective order of 79.18± 0.58, 0.78±0.6, 1.44±0.14 and 0.69±0.33 mg.100 g-1. Analysis of the physical properties revealed that the specific gravity, L*, a*, b*, whiteness and yellowness of the milk were 1.025± 0.009, 77.74±0.67, -0.90±0.37, 2.492 ±0.27, 39.3±0.91 and 4.81±1.06 respectively. According to the results mentioned earlier, it might be concluded that the raw milk produced from one-humped camels reared in Khur and Biabanak could provide a valuable source of energy for the consumers.