Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 June 2009
Starch-gel electrophoresis (SGE) and formol titration methods for detecting proteolysis in cold-stored raw milk have been studied to establish their value as quality indices. When examined by SGE, the first evidence of proteolysis in raw milks stored at 5°C was the formation of para-κ-casein. However, this fraction could not be detected on the starch gels until the total bacterial count (TBC) exceeded 107/ml. The SGE method appeared more reliable than the previously discussed tyrosine value method. Formol titration did not appear to have any application in the screening of cold-stored raw milks with TBC < 107/ml, but would detect some milks of poorer bacteriological quality.