Fatty Acids Content in Milk of Dromedary Camel (Camelus dromedarius) from Farming and Pastoral Systems in Sudan

Abstract

Running title: Fatty acids in milk of Camelus dromedarius from Sudan. Abstract:The content of fatty acids was determined in milk from camel (Camelus dromedarius), under farming system and Natural pasture, by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC). Milk from farming and pastoral system, respectively, contained (84.3and 85.7 mg/ g) total fatty acids, where, saturated fatty acids formed 67.5% and 63.8%, unsaturated fatty acids formed 32.5% and 36.2%, USFA/ SFA was 0.48 and 0.57,respectively. Monounsaturated acids (MUFA) formed 29.8% and 34.4%, polyunsaturated acids (PUFA) formed 2.7% and 1.8%, respectively. Palmitic acid (C16:0) and Stearic acid (C18:0) were the major SFA, Oleic (C18:1n9c) and Palmitoleic (C16:1) acids were the major MUFA, Linoleic acid (C18:2n6c) was the major PUFA. Short chain Caproic acid (C6:0) was 0.13% in milk from farming system and 0.2% in milk from pastoral system, medium chains (MCFA) was 8.9% and 10.7%, and long chains (LCFA) 90% and 89% in milk of the two systems, respectively. Omega 3 and 6 (N-3/ N-6) ratio was 0.17 and 0.08, respectively. The content of fatty acids in milk of Camelus dromedarius was comparable to other mammalian milk, and the results indicated that camel milk from different raising systems is a good potential source of essential fatty acids and can provide the daily requirement of healthy diet.