Effect of nongenetic factors on milk compositional aspects and bacteriological quality in Tunisian Maghrebi dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius) reared under a traditional pastoral management system

This study was planned to evaluate the impact of nongenetic factors on physicochemical composition and microbial quality of milk from Maghrebi camels kept under traditional system in oasis areas of Tunisia. Milksamples from 69 animals were collected from lactating Negga over winter and summer. Animals belonging to private flocks were between 5 and 17.5 years of age, with parity numbers ranging from first to sixth. Samples were analyzed for basic composition and microbiological features according to standard methods. No significant association (P > 0.05) between physical characteristics and nongenetic factors has been observed. The maximum contents of total solids, protein, casein, and fat content were observed during winter. The third lactation was characterized with the highest content of total solids, protein, casein, and lactose; while the highest fat content was recorded in the second lactation. The highest levels of Ca, P, and K were recorded in the winter (P