Characteristics of Korean-Saanen goat milk caseins and somatic cell counts in comparison with Holstein cow milk counterparts

Characteristics of - and -casein fractions in the milk of Korean-Saanen goats were compared with those of Holstein cow milk using capillary electrophoresis (CE) analysis. The s1-CN content of the Saanen goat milk samples varied from 2.4% to 9.3% of total proteins. Total s-CN content of the goat milk varied from 10.1% to 17.0%. Total -CN content containing 1-CN and the 2-CN varied from 49.6% to 61.0% of total proteins. Average s-CN to -CN ratio of the Saanen goat milk from different farms was 0.24±0.04, ranging from 0.17 to 0.33. The s-CN ( s1-CN + s0-CN) to -CN ( A1-CN + A2-CN) ratio of Holstein cow milk was 0.81, which was much higher than that of Korean-Saanen goat milk. The goat milk samples having more than 1.5 million cells/ml somatic cell counts (SCC) contained higher s-CNs (P < 0.01) and lower -CNs (P < 0.05) contents than milks with <1.5 million SCC. This resulted in a higher s-CN to -CN ratio (P < 0.01) in the milk with >1.5 million SCC.