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Title: EFFECT OF AGING ON THE RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF CHEDDAR- AND COLBY-LIKE CHEESES-MADE WITH CAPRINE MILK FROM DIFFERENT STAGES OF LACTATION

Author
item Van Hekken, Diane
item Tunick, Michael
item SORYAL, KAMAL - LANGSTON U.,LANGSTON, OK
item ZENG, STEVE - LANGSTON U.,LANGSTON, U

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/2/2005
Publication Date: 7/15/2005
Citation: Van Hekken, D.L., Tunick, M.H., Soryal, K.A., Zeng, S.S. 2005. Effect of aging on the rheological properties of cheddar- and colby-like cheese-made with caprine milk from different stages of lactation. (abstract). IFT Annual Book of Abstracts. Available: http://confex.com/ift 2005/techprogram/paper 29761 htm.

Interpretive Summary: N/A

Technical Abstract: Manufacturing cheeses is one way of utilizing caprine milk although producing uniform quality cheeses that age well are challenged by the seasonal milk supply. Previously, we showed that using cheesemilk from goats at 3 different stages of lactation resulted in freshly manufactured Cheddar-like and Colby-like cheeses with different rheological properties. This phase of the study determined the changes in the rheological and proteolytic properties of these cheeses as they aged. Whole milk from Alpine goats (all began milking in April 2003) in early, middle and late lactation (EL, ML, and LL; 4-5, 12-15, and 21-23 wk of lactation; respectively) was used to manufacture cheese according to Cheddar and Colby cheesemaking procedures. Cheeses aged at 4°C for up to 16 wk (Colby-like) and 24 wk (Cheddar-like) were evaluated every 8 wk for proteolysis using SDS-PAGE and for changes in rheological properties using oscillatory shear, compression, and torsion tests. Although milk and cheese compositions and beta-casein and alphaS2-casein concentrations, for this herd and milking season, were similar for the 3 different stages of lactation for each cheese, the factors (currently unidentified) that influenced the formation of the cheese matrix were apparently different and resulted in the ML cheeses being harder, more rigid, and having higher viscoelastic properties than the EL or LL cheeses. Although proteolysis occurred with aging and the degradation of the proteins in the cheese matrix resulted in softer and less rigid cheeses that were more tolerant of deformation, the ML cheeses maintained the higher rheological values throughout aging which suggests that cheeses of consistent quality and uniformity could be manufactured using ML milk. The EL and LL cheeses underwent more proteolysis during aging than the ML cheeses which supports further investigation of the role of indigenous enzymes in cheese rheology and suggests that minor enzymes may factor into matrix formation.