Changes in the milk of Anatolian buffalo raised in Düzce during lactation period

In this study, it was aimed to determine some chemical, physical and somatic cell counts of Anatolian buffalo milk and also to reveal the changes in these properties during lactation. The study was carried out on 30 Anatolian Buffalo milks raised in a buffalo farm (Mandacı İlyas Çiftliği) operating in Düzce, and a total of 462 milk samples were analyzed throughout the study. According to the results obtained, the average dry matter value of the buffalo milk samples is 15.74%, the fat content is 6.49%, the protein rate is 4.30%, the amount of milk salts is 0.77%, the lactose amount is 5.40%, the pH is 6,72, specific gravity 1.030, freezing point -0.62°C, electrical conductivity 2.73 mS/cm, somatic cell number 152760 cells/ml. Dry matter values of buffalo milks were found to be low in the first months of lactation and high towards the end of the lactation (P<0.05). During lactation, the lowest fat value was observed in June, and the highest fat value was observed in September and October (P˂0.05). Protein values increased from April to July and decreased in the following months. Lactose values increased from April to July and decreased towards the end of lactation. The salt content of milk samples increased rapidly from April to July, and then decreased. Although pH values in buffalo milk samples fluctuated after June, this fluctuation was not found significant (P>0.05). The specific gravity values of the examined milks increased from April to July and then decreased. The conductivity values started from 2.40 mS/cm in April, increased to 2.95 mS/cm in August and decreased to 2.72 mS/cm at the end of lactation. The freezing point values of the analyzed samples decreased from April to July and increased in the following months (P<0.05). Somatic cell counts increased until May (P<0.05), and decreased in the following months. The results obtained from the study provide important information for buffalo breeders and buffalo milk processing industry.