Seasonal variation of chemical content and heavy metal levels in raw milk

Abstract

Aksaray province is an important raw milk supplier for the dairy industry. In this respect, it is important to examine the milk quality of the region. In this case, milk was collected over a nine-month period from 413 cows at seven distinct locations in three different seasons. The percentages of fat, lactose, protein, dry matter, somatic cells, and the levels of heavy metals like arsenic, aluminum, cadmium, lead, and nickel were examined. All of these components and their levels of seasonal variations in milk were also researched. Considering the average values of the parameters of the milk collected from all farms evaluated within the scope of the study, significant changes were detected. Significant changes were observed for fat, lactose, total solids, somatic cells, arsenic, aluminum, nickel, cadmium and lead. Only the protein value did not change depending on the seasons. The details of the changes on the basis of farms are also examined in the study.