Microbiological Quality and Biochemical Characteristics of Lactic Acid Bacteria from Camel Milk as Affected by the Production System and Stage of Lactation

The aim of this work is to study the effect of lactation stage and camel farming system on microbiological, physicochemical parameters, and identification of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) of camel milk. Samples were collected from four camels in semi-intensive system and four camels in intensive system. Microbiological and physicochemical parameters were analyzed. Furthermore, to study the effect of lactation stage, samples were collected from three camels and followed during a period of 10 months of lactation from parturition. LAB were isolated from this sample and identified by biochemical methods. The difference between the physico-chemical characteristic basis of camel farming system are not statistically different except fat. The microbiological analysis showed a significant difference in total mesophilic bacteria, yeast, and molds and total coliform between intensive, semi-intensive, and extensive system. The difference between physicochemical and microbiological characteristics basis of lactation stage are statistically significant. In the intensive system, they were identified the same genre of bacteria: Lactococcus lactis, but in semi intensive system, we found different species of LAB. Eight of LAB identified as different Lactococcus or Lactobacillus was isolated in colostrums. The diversity of LAB was affected by lactation stage and farming system.