Effect of storage on the electronic cell count of milk

SummaryUsing a standard method, the electronic cell count of formalin-treated milk usually increased during storage. This increase varied with the milk and was found to be due to a corresponding decrease in the effectiveness of the fat-dispersal procedure before counting. A more severe fat-dispersal procedure incorporated into the standard method resulted in a stable cell count being obtained. It was found that formalin must be added to milk within 24 h of milking to prevent lysis of the cells.</jats:p

The effect of concentration on the heat stability of skim-milk

SummaryA progressive change takes place in the heat stability of skim-milk during concentration. At the maximum in the coagulation time (CT)–pH profile of milk concentrated to over 20% of total solids (TS) the total N depletion curve changed from single- to 2-stage and CT became insensitive to the addition of urea. Furthermore, addition of β-lactoglobulin to skim-milk concentrates destabilized the heated milk whilst the opposite effect was observed in the presence of sulphydryl-group blocking agents. As a result of these observations, it has been suggested that the mechanism of coagulation in concentrated milk is similar to that which occurs within the minimum of the CT–pH profile of skim-milk at normal levels of TS.</jats:p

Effect of urea on the heat coagulation of the caseinate complex in skim-milk

SummaryAdditions of urea progressively increased the heat stability of milk outside of its coagulation time (CT)–pH minimum. In the region of the CT–pH minimum larger amounts of urea were required before an increase in heat stability occurred. The effect of urea was observed over the temperature range 125–140 °Cfornaturalmilk, milk which had been dialysed against synthetic sera, and milk to which a sulphydrylblocking agent had been added. Urea additions did not affect the activation energy of the heat coagulation reaction or the stability of milk to rennet or ethanol.</jats:p

Studies on the heat stability of milk protein: II. Effect of exposing milk to light

SummaryIt was found that the increase in heat stability (coagulation time) that occurs when some milks are stored in light was not caused by changes in pH. These labile milks invariably gave a type A heat-stability curve, had a pH in the range corresponding to the coagulation-time minimum of the curve, and showed the expected abnormal 2-stage type of coagulation. The increase in coagulation time following exposure to light resulted from a delay in the occurrence of the first coagulation, the second coagulation time remaining unaltered. The presence of riboflavin in milk and of O2 in the headspace atmosphere during storage were necessary conditions for milk to be labile. Since light, headspace O2 and riboflavin had similar influences on rennet coagulation time it is suggested that in both instances the causative reaction, as proposed by others to account for the increase in rennet coagulation time of H2O2-treated milk, is stabilization of the heat- and rennin-sensitive methionine-phenylalaninebond in κ-casein by photo-oxidation of the methionine to methionine sulphoxide.</jats:p

Studies on the heat stability of milk protein: III. Effect of heat-induced acidity in milk

SummaryAn examination was made of the effect of varying the protein, lactose and total serum ion content of milk on the rate of production of heat-induced acidity (as measured by pH decrease), on heat stability (as measured by coagulation time), on the relationship between coagulation time and initial pH of milk (as measured by coagulation time-pH curves) and on the interrelationship of these parameters. In addition, the effect on these parameters and their interrelationship of varying the composition and volume of the headspace atmosphere in contact with the milk was investigated. Explanations are proposed for the observed effects on heat stability of varying the composition of milk and the heating conditions, with special reference to the influence of heat-induced acidity.</jats:p

The heat stability of milk and concentrated milk containing added aldehydes and sugars

SummaryThe addition of simple aldehydes brought about large increases in the heat stability of both skim-milk and concentrated skim-milk over a comparatively wide milk–pH range. The coagulation time–pH minima of type A milks were completely removed by aldehyde treatment. Some sugars, which react readily as aldehydes on heating, were also shown to stabilize concentrated milk to prolonged heat treatment at 120 °C.</jats:p

Studies on the heat stability of milk protein: I. Interconversion of type A and type B milk heat-stability curves

SummaryCoagulation time–pH curves with a coagulation-time minimum around pH 6·8 (type A curve) could progressively become type B (no minimum) as the heating temperature was decreased from 150 to 130°C. The short coagulation time that most milks have when pH is around 6·8 was found to be the result of a ‘premature’ coagulation, probably caused by calcium phosphate deposition on the larger caseinate micelles. This is followed by a second coagulation, not visually detected, that coincides with the coagulation time that would be expected if no coagulation-time minimum existed on the coagulation time-pH curve. The coagulation time of milks giving type A and type B curves may therefore not be comparable.Forewarming milk for 30 min at 80°C can introduce or accentuate a coagulationtime minimum when the milk is subsequently heated at a higher temperature. The effects of adding β-lactoglobulin, copper and N-ethylmaleimide on the heat stability of milk were examined and explanations proposed for these effects.</jats:p