Front-Face Fluorescence Spectroscopy as a Rapid and Non-Destructive Tool for Differentiating Between Sicilo–Sarde and Comisana Ewe’s Milk During Lactation Period: A Preliminary Study

The objective of this study was to assess the potential of front-face fluorescence spectroscopy for differentiating between two genotypes (Comisana and Sicilo–Sarde) of ewe’s milk collected during lactation period. Physico-chemical analyses and fluorescence spectra were performed on milk samples during the first 15 weeks of lactation period. Regarding fluorescence spectra, aromatic amino acids and nucleic acids (AAA+NA), tryptophan, and vitamin A were recorded on milk samples after excitation set at 250, 290, and 322 nm, respectively. Emission spectra of vitamin A were scanned after emission set at 410 nm. Among the investigated intrinsic probes, only the principal component analysis (PCA) performed on AAA+NA allowed a good discrimination between milks produced from Comisana and those collected from Sicilo–Sarde ewes. Also, the PCA carried out on the physico-chemical parameters did not allow any discrimination between milk samples according to their genotypes. It can be concluded that emission spectra of AAA+NA could be considered as fingerprints allowing a good identification of milk samples according to ewe’s genotypes.