Seasonal variations in the composition and thermal properties of New Zealand milk fat: II. Thermal properties of milk fat and their relation to composition

Abstract

SummaryMelting curves were determined by differential scanning calorimetry on 17 samples of milk fat obtained at approximately fortnightly intervals through one dairying season. Liquid-fat content at a number of temperatures was calculated from the melting curves.Correlation between percentage liquid fat at 12 and at 22 °C and weight percentage of short-chain fatty acids (C4–C8) was low (r = 0·45 and 0·58 respectively) as was that with cis-unsaturated acids (r = 0·39 and 0·29). Correlation with the sum of short-chain and cis-unsaturated acids was higher (r = 0·71 and 0·68). With a multiple regression model including short-chain and cis-unsaturated acids the values of the multiple correlation coefficient (R) were 0·75 and 0·78.The softening point showed a high correlation (r = 0·79) with weight percentage of long-chain saturated acids and also with the temperature at which 94 % of the fat was liquid (r = 0·75).Possible explanations of these findings are discussed.