Comparison of goat milk standards with cow milk standards for analyses of somatic cell count, fat and protein in goat milk

Goat milk standards and cow milk standards were used to calibrate a Fossomatic-300 fluorescent cell counter and Dairylab II infrared milk analyzer for analyses of goat milk samples. Somatic cell counts (SCC) of goat milk were 27% lower (5.5 x 105 mL-1 vs 7.0 x 105 mL-1) when the Fossomatic-300 was calibrated with goat milk SCC standards than with cow milk SCC standards (P < 0.001). When the Dairylab II was calibrated with goat milk component standards, the levels of fat and protein in milk samples were 0.04% and 0.27% higher, respectively, than with cow milk component standards (P < 0.001). The data indicated that Fossomatic instruments and infrared milk analyzers must be calibrated with goat milk standards for more reliable and accurate analysis of goat milk.