A comparative analysis of acceptance by Japanese females and price of goat milk from different sources

ABSTRACT A sensory survey was carried out using 4 different types of whole goat milk among middle‐class females to investigate consumer acceptability of goat milk and whether there is an opportunity to expand the sale of goat milk products in Japan. Four different types of whole milk powder (domestic concentrate‐fed, domestic pasture‐fed, USA commercially canned, and New Zealand commercially canned) were used. Fresh cow milk was served as a control. Thirty‐one housewives evaluated the 5 liquid milk samples for smell, taste and overall characteristics on a scale of 1 (low) to 3 (high). Chi‐square analyses were carried out to detect significant differences between the milk types in each category. The goat milk from the USA was the most preferred goat milk with respect to smell and overall evaluation. Domestic pasture‐fed milk received the lowest grade in the evaluation for its ‘grassy and goaty’ smell. This result shows us that pasture intake affects the taste and smell of powdered milk which gives the lowest evaluation by the participants. If Japanese goat milk producers want to be successful in the domestic goat milk market and compete against goat milk products from other countries, they should improve production methods and flavor of their products.