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In the ultra-high temperature (UHT) process, milk is subject to temperatures above 135 °C for few seconds giving a product with a shelf-life of several months. The raw milk quality, UHT process and storage conditions affect the stability. In this study, the stability of UHT milk produced in an indirect system was evaluated by studying changes in taste, colour, fat separation, fat adhesion to the package, sedimentation, gelation, heat coagulation time, pH and ethanol stability during storage for up to one year at different temperatures. UHT milk stored at 4 and 20 °C had the longest shelf-life of 34–36 weeks, limited by sediment formation. Storage at 30 and 37 °C considerably decreased the shelf-life of UHT milk to 16–20 weeks, whereby changes in sediment formation, taste and colour were the limiting factors. Our results suggest that the changes observed at the different storage temperatures can be explained by different known mechanisms.

Interactive effects of casein micelle size and milk calcium and citrate content on rennet‐induced coagulation were investigated. Milk samples containing small (SM) and large (LM) micelles, obtained from individual Holstein cows, were modified by addition of calcium and/or citrate and milk coagulation properties were evaluated in a full factorial design. The results showed that LM milk had a higher relative proportion of casein, coagulated faster, and resulted in a stronger gel than SM milk. Addition of calcium slightly decreased casein micelle size, while addition of citrate slightly increased micelle size. Calcium addition resulted in a shorter coagulation time and the strongest gels, while citrate addition increased the coagulation time and resulted in the weakest gels. Addition of calcium and citrate in combination resulted in intermediate coagulation properties. The interactive effect of micelle size and citrate was significant for gel strength. Microstructural differences between the milk gels were consistent with the rheological properties, for example, the micrographs revealed that a more homogeneous network was formed when calcium was added, resulting in a stronger gel. A more inhomogeneous network structure was formed when citrate was added, resulting in a weaker gel. Thus, variations in casein micelle size and in calcium and citrate content influence rennet‐induced coagulation in bovine milk. The calcium and citrate contents in Swedish milk have changed over time, whereby calcium content has increased and citrate content has decreased. In practical cheese making, calcium is added to cheese milk, most likely altering the role of inherent citrate and possibly influencing casein micelle size. The observed interaction effect between casein micelle size and citrate in this study, suggests that larger micelles with moderate citrate level will result in firmer gels, whereas a higher citrate content reduced gel strength more in case of large than SM. Since firmer gels are likely to retain more protein and fat than less firmer gels, this interaction effect could have implications in practical cheese production.

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The objective of the studies reported in this research communication was to investigate differences in composition and enzymatic activities in bulk milk samples provided from Swedish dairy farms with different management systems, i.e. automated (AMS) and conventional milking systems (CMS). A bulk milk sample was collected from each of 104 dairy farms, 51 using AMS and 53 using CMS, located in the same geographical region. Sampling took place within two consecutive days during the indoor period (October). Milk samples were analysed for contents of total fat and protein, free fatty acids (FFA), caseins and whey proteins, somatic cell count (SCC), pH, plasmin and plasminogen derived activities, and total proteolysis. Our results showed a lower protein content and higher SCC in bulk milk from AMS herds compared with milk from CMS herds. Plasmin, plasminogen and total plasmin/ plasminogen derived activities were lower in milk from AMS herds but despite this, total casein and the ß-casein fraction as % of total protein were lower in milk from AMS herds than in milk from herds using CMS. Total proteolysis was higher in milk from AMS herds, suggesting that other proteases than plasmin, e.g. cellular and bacterial proteases, contributed to the degradation of casein. This was supported by a positive correlation between SCC and total proteolysis (P < 0·01), as well as a negative correlation between total proteolysis and ß-casein fraction (P < 0·05). In conclusion, comparing the quality of bulk milk from commercial dairy herds using AMS and CMS, respectively, several differences were observed, suggesting a significant effect from management system.