Abstract
Objective: This study was carried out to investigate the composition, acidity and total aerobic mesophilic bacterial load of milk used in the production of traditional Diyarbakır Örgü cheese, as well as to determine the traditional production process of the cheese.
Materials and Methods: Raw milk samples (8x400 mL) were obtain from each dairy in April-May in 8 small-scale dairies where traditional Diyarbakır Örgü cheese is produced. On the other hand, cheese production process was followed in 4 enterprises. Composition (fat, protein, lactose, DM, ash) analysis of raw milk samples were made with Funke Gerber device (Lactostar, 3510-070702, Germany), pH measurements were made with digital pH meter (WTW 330i, Germany). Dilutions of milk samples up to 10-8 were prepared, which were delivered to the laboratory by maintaining the cold chain. Subsequently, it was inoculated on PCA medium with the cast plate method, and total aerobic mesophilic bacteria count was made after 48 hours of incubation at 30 °C. Temperature, acidity and salt values in all production stages of cheese and the duration of each process were recorded and the production process of Diyarbakır Örgü cheese was created in line with these data. The data of the study were analyzed with one-way ANOVA, and the difference between the significant means was determined with the Tukey multiple comparison test.
Results: Average dry matter, fat, protein, lactose and ash ratios, titratable acidity (SH), pH and total aerobic mesophilic bacteria count (log cfu mL-1) of raw milk used in the cheese production were calculated as 14.28, 4.37, 4.41, 4.63, 0.87, 11.55, 6.54 and 7.51, respectively.
Conclusion: According to the measurements, the cheese production is carried out entirely in accordance with the skills and direction of the cheese masters. Therefore, important production processes of the cheese such as standardization of milk, renneting, fermentation and scalding of the curd, cheese salting etc. should be rearranged in the context of good production practices.