December 13, 2007

Cow pasture may affect milk flavour: research

Milk flavour can be controlled through composition of cow pasture, according to recent findings by Danish scientists.

Researchers from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences (DJF) at the University of Aarhus and the Faculty of Life Sciences at the University of Copenhagen (KU-LIFE) worked together to investigate the effects of different pasture mixture on the taste of milk.

One of the goals of the research was to be able to offer an organic product that differentiates itself from conventionally produced milk.

The scientists have studied the effect of four different pasture mixtures on milk composition and taste as well as milk yield. In the grazing studies, some pasture mixtures included relatively high levels of various legumes (white clover, red clover and alfalfa) and chicory. The study was divided into three periods of 14 days in May, June and August.

Neither milk protein composition, milk fat composition nor milk yield were significantly affected, but there were taste differences in milk from different pasture mixtures and different periods. According to senior scientist Troels Kristensen from the Department of Agroecology and Environment at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Aarhus, while it is possible to produce milk with different tastes, it remains difficult to predict the results. He said aromatic compounds in the crops can be measured but not the same as being able to predict the contents of the milk because cow is a ruminant.

Observations of pasture development and cow grazing behaviour were also included in the study. It was seen that the cows were somewhat picky eaters, which resulted in selective and heterogenous grazing. The next step is to try and produce a stable product that is predictable and does not vary according to season. The scientists will also test if the method can be used under practical conditions and are therefore carrying out studies on six different practical organic farms with varying proportions of white clover.