Ragusano cheese is a brine-salted pasta filata cheese. Composition changes during 12 mo of aging were determined. Historically, Ragusano cheese has been aged in caves at 14 to 16 degrees C with about 80 to 90% relative humidity. Cheeses (n = 132) included in our study of block-to-block variation were produced by 20 farmhouse cheese makers in the Hyblean plain region of the Province of Ragusa in Sicily. Mean initial cheese block weight was about 14 kg. The freshly formed blocks of cheese before brine salting contained about 45.35% moisture, 25.3% protein, and 25.4% fat, with a pH of 5.25. As result of the brining and aging process, a natural rind forms. After 12 mo of aging, the cheese contained about 33.6% moisture, 29.2% protein, 30.0% fat, and 4.4% salt with a pH of 5.54, but block-to-block variation was large. Both soluble nitrogen content and free fatty acid (FFA) content increased with age. The pH 4.6 acetate buffer and 12% TCA-soluble nitrogen as a percentage of total nitrogen were 16 and 10.7%, respectively, whereas the FFA content was about 643 mg/100 g of cheese at 180 d. Five blocks of cheese were selected at 180 d for a study of variation within block. Composition variation within block was large; the center had higher moisture and lower salt in moisture content than did the outside. Composition variation within blocks favored more proteolysis and softer texture in the center.

It has been shown that several factors such as feed source and breed might influence milk fat-soluble antioxidants (AOs). This study investigated pasture feeding effects and dairy cattle breed on the content of α-tocopherol and β-carotene in cows' milk by monitoring two grazing seasons (spring and fall) as well as a summer nopasture season. Four dairy farms located in Sicily were selected: two with both Holstein and Brown Swiss cows and two with only a Modicana (M) local breed cows. Bulk milk samples of each breed per farm were collected. Milk α-tocopherol and β-carotene were highest during spring (16.2 and 9.7 μg.g −1 of fat, respectively), lowest during fall (11.2 and 0.8 μg.g −1 of fat, respectively) and intermediate during summer (13.3 and 2.5 μg.g −1 of fat, respectively). These results indicate that grazing pasture season has an important impact on milk fat-soluble antioxidant content. In particular, higher milk AO levels in spring compared to fall might be attributed to several factors such as differences in the quality and composition of pasture, differences in pasture intake and even the climate. Breed effect on milk AO contents was not so pronounced. Milk β-carotene levels did not differ significantly among breeds. Saturation of milk β-carotene may explain similar vitamin levels among breeds in spring despite different pasture intakes. It was interesting that significant levels of αtocopherol were detected in milk from M cows during summer. The latter effect could be masked by the considerably higher pasture intake of M in spring compared to the other two breeds.

-Polyunsaturated fatty acids and lipo-soluble vitamins in the milk are considered as neutraceutical compounds due to their beneficial effects on human health. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the changes in fatty acid composition and fat-soluble antioxidant content in plasma and milk from cows fed with different dietary proportions from pasture. Cows from a farm in the Hyblean mountain region in Italy were randomly divided into three groups (12 animals per group): CTRL fed only a total mix ration (TMR); 30P fed a TMR supplemented with 30% dry matter (DM) from pasture and 70P fed a TMR supplemented with 70% DM of pasture. Blood and milk samples were collected, stored and analysed for their content of fatty acids and fat-soluble antioxidants. Fatty acid profiles were significantly modified by different diets. CLA, vaccenic acid (VA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) significantly (P < 0.05) increased in plasma as a function of the proportion of pasture added to the diet. In agreement with these data, a progressively significant (P < 0.05) increase in concentrations of VA, CLA and EPA was observed in the milk. Such changes in fatty acid composition were accompanied by a concomitant increase in the concentrations of α-tocopherol and β-carotene in both plasma and milk. The increase in EPA, DHA and CLA, β-carotene and α-tocopherol in plasma may not only have a beneficial impact for milk and meat quality, but may also result in an increased protection against inflammatory events. Article published by EDP SciencesRésumé -L'augmentation de la teneur en herbe de la ration améliore la teneur en acides gras polyinsaturés et en antioxydants lipophiles dans le plasma et le lait des vaches laitières en ration complète. Les acides gras polyinsaturés (AGPI) et les vitamines liposolubles du lait sont considérés comme des composés nutraceutiques en raison de leurs effets bénéfiques pour la santé. Le but de cette étude était d'évaluer les changements de composition en acides gras et de teneur en antioxydants liposolubles dans le plasma et le lait de vaches laitières recevant différentes proportions de pâture. Les vaches provenant d'une ferme de la région du mont Iblei en Italie, ont été réparties aléatoirement en trois groupes (12 animaux par groupe) : un groupe témoin recevant une alimentation en ration complète (TMR) ; un groupe recevant une alimentation TMR supplémentée à hauteur de 30 % de matière sèche en herbe ; un groupe recevant une alimentation TMR supplé-mentée à hauteur de 70 % de matière sèche en herbe. Des échantillons sanguins et du lait ont été collectés, conservés et analysés pour leur teneur en acides gras et en antioxydants liposolubles. Les profils en acides gras étaient modifiés de façon significative par les différents régimes. L'acide linoléique conjugué (CLA), l'acide vaccénique (VA), l'acide eisapentanoïque (EPA) et l'acide docohexanoïque (DHA) augmentaient significativement (P < 0,05) dans le plasma en fonction de la proportion de pâture. En accord avec ces rés...

The influence of temperature (12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 degrees C) of saturated brine on lipolysis and proteolysis in 3.8-kg blocks of Ragusano cheese during 24 d of brining was determined. Twenty-six 3.8-kg blocks were made on each day. The cheese making was replicated on 3 different days. All blocks were labeled and weighed prior to brining. One block was sampled and analyzed prior to brine salting. Five blocks were placed into each of 5 different brine tanks at different temperatures. One block was removed from each brine tank after 1, 4, 8, 16, and 24 d of brining, weighed, sampled, and analyzed. Both proteolysis and lipolysis in Ragusano cheese increased with increasing brine temperature (from 12 to 24 degrees C), with the impact of brine temperature on proteolysis and lipolysis becoming progressively larger. Proteolysis was highest in the interior of the blocks where salt in moisture content was lowest and temperature had more impact on proteolysis in the interior position of the block than the exterior position. However, the opposite was true for lipolysis. The total free fatty acid content was higher and temperature had more impact on lipolysis at the exterior position of the block where salt in moisture was the highest. This effect of increased salt concentration on lipolysis was confirmed with direct salted cheeses in a small follow-up experiment. Lipolysis increased with increasing salt in the moisture content of the direct salted cheeses. It is likely that migration of water-soluble FFA from the brine into the cheese and from the interior portion of the cheese to the exterior portion of the cheese also contributed to a higher level of FFA at the exterior portion of the blocks. As brine temperature increased the profile of individual free fatty acids released from triglycerides changed, with the proportion of short-chain free fatty acids increasing with increasing brine temperature. This effect was largest at high salt in moisture content.

Composition and physical properties of cheeses are influenced by temperature, salt, and calcium concentration of brine. This work aimed to examine conditions of brine under which the cheese matrix contracts or expands in absence of restrictions imposed by surface rind development during overnight block formation. Three experimental 4-kg blocks of Ragusano cheese were produced at 3 different stretching temperatures (70, 80, and 90°C) and cut into pieces weighing approximately 40 to 50 g. One piece from each was chemically analyzed at time 0. All other pieces were measured for weight and volume and placed in plastic bags containing 300 mL of different brine solutions (2% NaCl with 0.1% Ca; 10% NaCl with 0, 0.1, 0.2, or 0.4% Ca; 18% NaCl with 0.1% Ca; and 26% NaCl with 0.1% Ca) at 3 different temperatures (4, 12, and 20°C). After 24h of brining, the cheeses were analyzed for weight, volume, chemical, and microstructural changes. Salt concentration in brine significantly influenced composition, weight, and volume of the cheeses after brining. Salt concentration was inversely related to cheese volume and weight. Changes in weight caused by altering the brining temperature were sufficient to reach statistical significance, and statistically significant volume changes were induced by brining temperature and its interaction with salt content. The highest volume increase (30%) occurred in the cheese stored in the 2% NaCl brine at the coldest temperature, whereas the greatest volume decrease was recorded in cheeses brined in the 26% NaCl brine. Composition was not affected by brining temperature. Calcium concentration did influence weight, volume, and composition, except on a fat-on-dry-basis. When cheeses were brined without added calcium, cheese volume and weight increased at all temperatures. At high calcium levels (0.4%), syneresis occurred and volume decreased, especially at 20°C (-16.5%). Microstructural investigation with porosity measurement confirmed weight and volume changes.