Assessment of trace element and quality parameters in sheep milk from different regions and different seasons in the Iraqi Kurdish region

ABSTRACT

Trace elements found in sheep milk are present as inorganic ions and their salts as part of organic molecules such as proteins, fats, carbohydrates and nucleic acids. The chemical form of trace elements found in milk is important as it determines their absorption and biological utilisation in the intestine. In this study, trace element concentration and quality of sheep milk were evaluated in a total of 97 sheep milk samples collected from different regions (Erbil, Altunkopri, Makhmur, Qaraj, Kasnazan, Khabat, Taqtaq, Koysinjaq, Soran, Rawanduz and Sidakan) in the Iraqi Kurdish region during two seasons in April and September. Flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS) was used to analyse the element content of the samples. The results in the samples collected in both periods showed that the mean values of Na, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Pb, Cr, Fe, P, Se and Cu were 328.15 µg mL⁻¹, 1604.40 µg mL⁻¹, 805.8 µg mL⁻¹, 177.28 µg mL⁻¹, 0.38 µg mL⁻¹, 0.67 µg mL⁻¹, 3.15 µg mL⁻¹,0.08 µg mL⁻¹, 260.04 µg mL⁻¹, 0.06 µg mL⁻¹, and 3.83 µg mL⁻¹, respectively. The mean values for some quality parameters such as fat, density, lactose, total salt and protein of sheep milk samples collected in both periods were 6.47%, 1029.28 kg m⁻³, 4.44%, 9.01%, and 4.07%, respectively. Besides, the data obtained were evaluated by some chemometric techniques such as correlation, multicomponent analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA).

KEYWORDS:

• Cluster analysis
• principal component analysis
• quality
• sheep milk
• trace element

Acknowledgments

This manuscript has been prepared from MSc. thesis (Master’s thesis, Republic of Turkey, Siirt University, Institute of Science). The authors have acknowledged to master of science (MSc.) thesis prepared by İbrahimTegin-advisor, writing and correcting the original draft, review & editing. Discussed the results and commented on the manuscript, critical feedback, organisation and helped shape the research; G. R. M. DAWDYB-Student, Writing the original draft, experimentation, discussed the results and commented on the manuscript; Bülent Hallaç- writing the original draft, discussed the results and commented on the manuscript, Erdal YABALAK-Writing and correcting the original draft, review & editing. Discussed the results and commented on the manuscript, critical feedback, organisation and helped shape the research. Design of the article and corrections

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article [and/or] its supplementary materials.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/03067319.2023.2297003.