Pilot-scale ceramic membrane filtration of skim milk for the production of a 'humanised' protein base ingredient for infant milk formula

The protein composition of bovine skim milk was modified using pilot scale membrane filtration to produce a whey protein-dominant ingredient with a casein profile closer to human milk. Bovine skim milk was processed at low (8.9 °C) or high (50 °C) temperature using ceramic microfiltration (MF) membranes (0.1 μm mean pore diameter). The resulting permeate stream was concentrated using polyethersulfone ultrafiltration (UF) membranes (10 kDa cut-off). The protein profile of MF and UF retentate streams were determined using reversed phase-high performance liquid chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Permeate from the cold MF process (8.9 °C) had a casein:whey protein ratio of ∼35:65 with no αS- or κ-casein present, compared with a casein:whey protein ratio of ∼10:90 at 50 °C. This study has demonstrated the application of cold membrane filtration (8.9 °C) at pilot scale to produce a dairy ingredient with a protein profile closer to that of human milk

Effectiveness of mid-infrared spectroscopy to predict the color of bovine milk and the relationship between milk color and traditional milk quality traits

The color of milk affects the subsequent color features of the resulting dairy products; milk color is also related to milk fat concentration. The objective of the present study was to quantify the ability of mid-infrared spectroscopy (MIRS) to predict color-related traits in milk samples and to estimate the correlations between these color-related characteristics and traditional milk quality traits. Mid-infrared spectral data were available on 601 milk samples from 529 cows, all of which had corresponding gold standard milk color measures determined using a Chroma Meter (Konica Minolta Sensing Europe, Nieuwegein, the Netherlands); milk color was expressed using the CIELAB uniform color space. Separate prediction equations were developed for each of the 3 color parameters (L* = lightness, a* = greenness, b* = yellowness) using partial least squares regression. Accuracy of prediction was determined using both cross validation on a calibration data set (n = 422 to 457 samples) and external validation on a data set of 144 to 152 samples. Moderate accuracy of prediction was achieved for the b* index (coefficient of correlation for external validation = 0.72), although poor predictive ability was obtained for both a* and L* indices (coefficient of correlation for external validation of 0.30 and 0.55, respectively). The linear regression coefficient of the gold standard values on the respective MIRS-predicted values of a*, L*, and b* was 0.81, 0.88, and 0.96, respectively; only the regression coefficient on L* was different from 1. The mean bias of prediction (i.e., the average difference between the MIRS-predicted values and gold standard values in external validation) was not different from zero for any of 3 parameters evaluated. A moderate correlation (0.56) existed between the MIRS-predicted L* and b* indices, both of which were weakly correlated with the a* index. Milk fat, protein, and casein were moderately correlated with both the gold standard and MIRS-predicted values for b*. Results from the present study indicate that MIRS data provides an efficient, low-cost screening method to determine the b* color of milk at a population level

Prediction of bovine milk technological traits from mid-infrared spectroscopy analysis in dairy cows

peer-reviewedRapid, cost-effective monitoring of milk technological traits is a significant challenge for dairy industries specialized in cheese manufacturing. The objective of the present study was to investigate the ability of mid-infrared spectroscopy to predict rennet coagulation time, curd-firming time, curd firmness at 30 and 60 min after rennet addition, heat coagulation time, casein micelle size, and pH in cow milk samples, and to quantify associations between these milk technological traits and conventional milk quality traits. Samples (n = 713) were collected from 605 cows from multiple herds; the samples represented multiple breeds, stages of lactation, parities, and milking times. Reference analyses were undertaken in accordance with standardized methods, and mid-infrared spectra in the range of 900 to 5,000 cm−1 were available for all samples. Prediction models were developed using partial least squares regression, and prediction accuracy was based on both cross and external validation. The proportion of variance explained by the prediction models in external validation was greatest for pH (71%), followed by rennet coagulation time (55%) and milk heat coagulation time (46%). Models to predict curd firmness 60 min from rennet addition and casein micelle size, however, were poor, explaining only 25 and 13%, respectively, of the total variance in each trait within external validation. On average, all prediction models tended to be unbiased. The linear regression coefficient of the reference value on the predicted value varied from 0.17 (casein micelle size regression model) to 0.83 (pH regression model) but all differed from 1. The ratio performance deviation of 1.07 (casein micelle size prediction model) to 1.79 (pH prediction model) for all prediction models in the external validation was <2, suggesting that none of the prediction models could be used for analytical purposes. With the exception of casein micelle size and curd firmness at 60 min after rennet addition, the developed prediction models may be useful as a screening method, because the concordance correlation coefficient ranged from 0.63 (heat coagulation time prediction model) to 0.84 (pH prediction model) in the external validation

Influence of sodium hexametaphosphate addition on the functional properties of milk protein concentrate solutions containing transglutaminase cross-linked proteins

peer-reviewedThe functional properties of milk protein concentrate (MPC) powders are often hindered by their poor solubility. Calcium chelating salts have been shown to improve powder solubility, but generally their action contributes to higher viscosity due to disintegration of casein micelles and higher levels of serum-phase calcium. To help mitigate increases in viscosity associated with calcium chelation, transglutaminase (TGase), an enzyme that covalently crosslinks protein, was employed in an effort to stabilise the casein micelle structure. Sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) was added to control (C-MPC) and TGase crosslinked MPC (TG-MPC) dispersions at concentrations of 5, 12.5 and 25 mm prior to analysis. TG-MPC dispersions had lower viscosity than C-MPC dispersions across all SHMP concentrations studied. Crosslinking limited micelle dissociation on SHMP addition and led to greater retention of the white colour of the protein dispersions, while the turbidity of C-MPC dispersions decreased with increasing SHMP addition.Wash Fellowship Programm

Modelling the changes in viscosity during thermal treatment of milk protein concentrate using kinetic data

peer-reviewedThis work aimed to model the effect of heat treatment on viscosity of milk protein concentrate (MPC) using kinetic data. MPC obtained after ultrafiltration was subjected to different time-temperature heat treatment combinations. Heat treatment at high temperature and short time (i.e., 100 or 120 °C×30 s) led to a significant increase in viscosity in MPC systems. Second-order reaction kinetic models proved a better fit than zero- or first-order models when fitted for viscosity response to heat treatment. A distinct deviation in the slope of the Arrhenius plot at 77.9 °C correlated to a significant increase in the rate of viscosity development at temperatures above this, confirming the transition of protein denaturation from the unfolding to the aggregation stage. This study demonstrated that heat-induced viscosity of MPC as a result of protein denaturation/aggregation can be successfully modelled in response to thermal treatment, providing useful new information in predicting the effect of thermal treatment on viscosity of MPC

Processing characteristics of dairy cow milk are moderately heritable.

Milk processing attributes represent a group of milk quality traits that are important to the dairy industry to inform product portfolio. However, because of the resources required to routinely measure such quality traits, precise genetic parameter estimates from a large population of animals are lacking for these traits. Milk processing characteristics considered in the present study—rennet coagulation time, curd-firming time, curd firmness at 30 and 60 min after rennet addition, heat coagulation time, casein micelle size, and milk pH—were all estimated using mid-infrared spectroscopy prediction equations. Variance components for these traits were estimated using 136,807 test-day records from 5 to 305 d in milk (DIM) from 9,824 cows using random regressions to model the additive genetic and within-lactation permanent environmental variances. Heritability estimates ranged from 0.18 ± 0.01 (26 DIM) to 0.38 ± 0.02 (180 DIM) for rennet coagulation time; from 0.26 ± 0.02 (5 DIM) to 0.57 ± 0.02 (174 DIM) for curd-firming time; from 0.16 ± 0.01 (30 DIM) to 0.56 ± 0.02 (271 DIM) for curd firmness at 30 min; from 0.13 ± 0.01 (30 DIM) to 0.48 ± 0.02 (271 DIM) for curd firmness at 60 min; from 0.08 ± 0.01 (17 DIM) to 0.24 ± 0.01 (180 DIM) for heat coagulation time; from 0.23 ± 0.02 (30 DIM) to 0.43 ± 0.02 (261 DIM) for casein micelle size; and from 0.20 ± 0.01 (30 DIM) to 0.36 ± 0.02 (151 DIM) for milk pH. Within-trait genetic correlations across DIM weakened as the number of days between compared intervals increased but were mostly >0.4 except between the peripheries of the lactation. Eigenvalues and associated eigenfunctions of the additive genetic covariance matrix for all traits revealed that at least the 80% of the genetic variation among animals in lactation profiles was associated with the height of the lactation profile. Curd-firming time and curd firmness at 30 min were weakly to moderately genetically correlated with milk yield (from 0.33 ± 0.05 to 0.59 ± 0.05 for curd-firming time, and from −0.62 ± 0.03 to −0.21 ± 0.06 for curd firmness at 30 min). Milk protein concentration was strongly genetically correlated with curd firmness at 30 min (0.84 ± 0.02 to 0.94 ± 0.01) but only weakly genetically correlated with milk heat coagulation time (−0.27 ± 0.07 to 0.19 ± 0.06). Results from the present study indicate the existence of exploitable genetic variation for milk processing characteristics. Because of possible indirect deterioration in milk processing characteristics due to selection for greater milk yield, emphasis on milk processing characteristics is advised

Effect of pH and heat treatment on viscosity and heat coagulation properties of milk protein concentrate

peer-reviewedThe effect of pH, adjusted using either hydrochloric acid (HCl), citric acid or sodium hydroxide, on calcium ion (Ca2+) activity, and consequent changes in viscosity and heat coagulation time (HCT) of milk protein concentrate (MPC) was investigated. Reducing the pH of MPC dispersions resulted in a reduction in their viscosity, which subsequently increased during heat treatment. The maximum heat stability of MPC was observed at pH 6.7. Reducing the pH of MPC from 6.7 to 6.2 resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) increase in Ca2+ activity, and reduction in HCT. Such changes were more extensive using HCl compared with citric acid. Increasing the pH greater than 6.7 also led to a reduction in HCT but a decrease in Ca2+ activity. These results demonstrate the importance of pH adjustment, and choice of acidulant, on Ca2+ activity, viscosity, and heat coagulation properties of MPC concentrates during processing

Influence of protein standardisation media and heat treatment on viscosity and related physicochemical properties of skim milk concentrate

peer-reviewedThe effects of heat treatment and protein standardisation on the physical properties of skim milk concentrates were determined. Protein standardisation was carried out by the addition of lactose or milk permeate to skim milk. Unstandardised and standardised skim milk was subjected to heat treatment temperatures of 90 or 120 °C prior to evaporation whereafter the solids content was increased to 46% (w/w). Viscosity data showed non-standardised concentrates had the highest viscosity, followed by skim standardised with milk permeate followed by that standardised with lactose. Thermal treatment at 120 °C also resulted in a higher viscosity than that at 90 °C for all concentrates. Particle size data of evaporated skim milk showed a bimodal size distribution for skim milk standardised with liquid milk permeate, compared with monomodal distribution profiles for unstandardised skim milk and lactose standardised skim milk. Overall, this study showed that protein standardisation and standardisation media significantly affected concentrate properties

Rehydration behaviour of spray-dried micellar casein concentrates produced using microfiltration of skim milk at cold or warm temperatures

peer-reviewedMicrofiltration (MF) of skim milk, when combined with diafiltration (DF), facilitates the manufacture of liquid micellar casein concentrate (MCC), which can be spray-dried into high-protein (≥80% protein, dry-basis) powders. MCC powders rehydrate slowly, which is typically considered a defect by end-users. This study compared the impact of cold (<10 °C) or warm (50 °C) MF/DF on the rehydration characteristics of MCC powders (MCCcold and MCCwarm, respectively). The wetting properties of the MCC powders, measured using optical tensiometry, were found to be equivalent. However, pronounced differences in dispersion characteristics were measured, and, after 90 min rehydration at 50 °C, liberated casein micelles accounted for only 7.5% of total particle volume in MCCwarm compared with 48% in MCCcold. Due to its superior dispersion characteristics, MCCcold yielded 50–60% less sediment during analytical centrifugation experiments. Cold MF/DF may improve the solubility of MCC powders by accelerating the release of casein micelles from powder particles during rehydration

Effect of thermal treatment on serum protein reduced micellar casein concentrate: An evaluation of rennet coagulability, cheese composition and yield

Microfiltration at 0.10 μm removed ～70.29% of serum proteins from milk and the resultant micellar casein concentrates (MCC) were subjected to no heat treatment (control), pasteurisation (72 °C × 15 s) and high heat treatment (HHT; 90 °C × 15s) before formulation of cheese milk for Cheddar cheese manufacture. MCC showed good heat stability due to low serum protein content. For cheese milk of typical casein content, both pasteurisation and HHT did not significantly influence pH, calcium distribution and rennet coagulability, or subsequent cheese composition and yield; although HHT elongated cheese make time significantly. On increasing casein content from 3.09% to 4.31%, there was no significant difference for rennet to cut time between cheeses made from milk with different thermal histories and casein contents. Overall, HHT of MCC had no significant impact on cheese make properties, cheese composition and yield of Cheddar cheese