Assessment of trace element and quality parameters in sheep milk from different regions and different seasons in the Iraqi Kurdish region

Abstract

Trace elements found in sheep milk are present as inorganic ions and their salts as part of organic molecules such as proteins, fats, carbohydrates and nucleic acids. The chemical form of trace elements found in milk is important as it determines their absorption and biological utilisation in the intestine. In this study, trace element concentration and quality of sheep milk were evaluated in a total of 97 sheep milk samples collected from different regions (Erbil, Altunkopri, Makhmur, Qaraj, Kasnazan, Khabat, Taqtaq, Koysinjaq, Soran, Rawanduz and Sidakan) in the Iraqi Kurdish region during two seasons in April and September. Flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS) was used to analyse the element content of the samples. The results in the samples collected in both periods showed that the mean values of Na, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Pb, Cr, Fe, P, Se and Cu were 328.15 mu g mL-1, 1604.40 mu g mL-1, 805.8 mu g mL-1, 177.28 mu g mL-1, 0.38 mu g mL-1, 0.67 mu g mL-1, 3.15 mu g mL-1,0.08 mu g mL-1, 260.04 mu g mL-1, 0.06 mu g mL-1, and 3.83 mu g mL-1, respectively. The mean values for some quality parameters such as fat, density, lactose, total salt and protein of sheep milk samples collected in both periods were 6.47%, 1029.28 kg m-3, 4.44%, 9.01%, and 4.07%, respectively. Besides, the data obtained were evaluated by some chemometric techniques such as correlation, multicomponent analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA).