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A comparative analysis of camel milk based on the conducted typology on the average values of the physicochemical composition was carried out. The typology is done by the method of automatic classification (hierarchical descending classification) using Ward's distances. Three classes of camel milk are obtained according to the obtained histogram of hierarchy level indices, the composition of each is very different among other. Since the samples of milk contrast strongly depending on the season of the year, and the region of animal breeding, two stages have been proposed to describe the variability of the composition of milk, depending on the species of animals. First, a typology of milk profiles based on the method of the principle components analysis on orthogonal instrumental variants (ACPVI) was developed and the distribution of these profiles by "animal species" were described with the elimination of the influence of the "region" and the "season of the year" factors. Secondly, a discriminant function of milk composition parameters is established, which allows a better separation of the species of animals. According to the ACPVI classification, 4 classes of milk are obtained that differ well and are grouped as milks "rich" (class 1), "low in protein" (class 2), low iodine number (class 3) and milk acidified and with low content of vitamin C (class 4). The distribution of different species in the classification showed that milk in 1st class mainly consists of Bactrian samples (58,9%), and the 2-class is mostly composed of dromedary. Nevertheless, milk samples of the dromedary are presented in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th classes. Regarding the milk of hybrids and collectied milk, it was difficult to attribute them to a clearly expressed class. Further, the influence of the "season" factor on the composition of milk was studied. According to the results of the ACPVI analysis, 5 classes were obtained, where class 1 (spring samples mainly) is characterized as a milk, which is "poor" in all the parameters used, excepting the total nitrogen content; class 2 (mainly summer samples) as milk, "rich" in lactose and vitamin C, but the content of calcium and total nitrogen is low; class 3 (almost only spring milk) – low content of vitamin C, but high amounts of lactose, iodine number, calcium and total nitrogen; milk of class 4 – is characterized as a milk of low lactose content, high amount of vitamin C, and sour milk is grouped in class 5.

In Kazakhstan, camel breeding mainly occupies areas sometimes close to polluting industries or other sources of pollu- tion as industrial agriculture, mainly cotton. Products issued from camel farms close to these sources as camel raw milk and fermented milk (shubat), wool and meat, traditionally used by humans could be contaminated. We investigated camel raw milk and fermented milk for the content of heavy metals (lead, cadmium, zinc and copper), radionuclide and some organic pollutants (PAHs, pesticides and indicator PCBs) in samples from different regions with a priori high risk of pollution (Atyrau, Kyzylorda, South-Kazakhstan and Almaty region). In the present paper, only some milk samples presented high lead concentration (> 500 ppb). After analysis for organic pollutants, it was observed some traces of hexachlorocyclohexane, lindane, hexanchlorothalonil in milk samples from different regions. One sample was also slightly contaminated with radionuclide. These preliminary results allow establishing a first map of risk for camel farming. As the whole, South-Kazakhstan appeared the most exposed region.

Eleven samples of dromedary camel colostrum in Kazakhstan, which originated from one farm only, were collected to study the changes in the physico-chemical composition (total fat, total protein, iodine index, lactose, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin C, urea, ammonia, density, Dornic acidity, pH, and skimmed dry matter) all along the first postpartum week. At that time, the fat matter decreased from 25.9% to 3.1% and protein from 17.2% to 4.2%, in contrast to vitamin C which increased. Minerals showed high variations with lower values the first day after parturition and variable changes up to the end of the week where the values were stabilized. The iron concentration decreased from the second day postpartum. No clear changes of the other parameters were observed, notably for the non-protein nitrogen (urea and ammonia).

The change in the composition of camel milk in four dromedaries was studied by including the common measured parameters: protein, total fat, lactose, main minerals (calcium, phosphorus, and iron), and vitamin C. The fat matter varied from 4.34% to 7.81% with a slight decrease all along the lactation and a minimal value at the 14th week corresponding to the lactation peak. Those variations were less important for protein content (from 2.58% to 3.64%), but the minimal value was observed at the 14th week also. The lactose varied slightly around its mean of 3.46%. The vitamin C concentration varied from 48 to 256 mg/l with a tendency of increasing all along the lactation. Calcium and phosphorus concentrations were quite parallel and their ratio Ca/P was constant. The minimal values (1.43 g/l for calcium and 1.16 g/l for phosphorus) were observed at the beginning of the lactation. The iron concentrations varied around the mean of 1.73 mg/l.

In four regions of Kazakhstan (Atyrau, Aralsk, Shymkent and Almaty), a survey on camel farms was achieved in order to study the variability of the physico-chemical composition of camel milk both in dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) and Bactrian (Camelus bactrianus) camel as well as their hybrids. As the whole, 163 milk samples were analyzed for calcium, phosphorus and iron determination. In order to maximize the variance, the samples were done in four different seasons which expressed the feeding change and the physiological stage changes as the calving season was concentrated in few months. The mean values were respectively 1.232 ± 0.292 g/l, 1.003 ± 0.217 g/l and 2.02 ± 1.24 mg/l for calcium, phosphorus and iron. No species, season or region effect was observed on iron content in the milk. Calcium and phosphorus change significantly according to season and species, but only phosphorus was linked to region effect. Especially phosphorus content is high in Aralsk region (1.156 ± 0.279 g/l). Globally, it is noticeable to observe the high level of phosphorus in the camel milk of Kazakhstan compared to the literature's results.

In Kazakhstan, camel milk is mainly consumed after fermentation process. The fermented camel milk, named shubat, is generally home-made by the traditional process. The changes in mineral composition of camel milk during the fermentation process were rarely studied especially for heavy metals. The present study aimed to assess the change in heavy metals and trace-elements contents during the fermentation process. Samples of milk and shubat were collected in eight farms of Southern Kazakhstan in order to determine copper, iron, manganese, zinc, arsenic and lead. In camel milk mean content of these heavy metals was respectively of 0.065 ± 0.04, 1.478 ± 0.53, 0.084 ± 0.03, 5.163 ± 2.17

Since its independence in 1991, Kazakhstan is in a state of "ecological crises", due to the specific place for nuclear test by soviet government for long time, and to the development of irrigation for field cottons linked with decreasing Aral Sea level. In addition the manufacturing of metals and the minerals had some impact on environmental contamination. In the South of Kazakhstan, eight farms were sampled close to probable pollution sources. Samples of camel milk, fodder and water were collected in each farm and analyzed for copper, iron, manganese, zinc, arsenic and lead. The mean content in fodder of Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, As and Pb was 10.40 ± 2.93, 793.69 ± 630.48, 62.38 ± 20.67, 32.95 ± 27.15, 1.03 ± 0.49 and 4.28 ± 9.60 ppm respectively. In camel milk mean content of these heavy metals was respectively of 0.07 ± 0.04, 1.48 ± 0.53, 0.08 ± 0.03, 5.16 ± 2.17