Research Article

Comparative analysis of camel and bovine milk cheeses based on physicochemical properties, fatty acid composition, volatile profile and chemometric evaluations

Volume: 10 Number: 3 September 25, 2026

Comparative analysis of camel and bovine milk cheeses based on physicochemical properties, fatty acid composition, volatile profile and chemometric evaluations

Abstract

This study compared the physicochemical, color, textural, free fatty acid, volatile compound, sensory and chemometric characteristics of white brined cheeses produced from camel and bovine milk during 90 days of ripening. Camel milk cheese exhibited significantly higher protein (17.19 vs. 13.07%), salt (5.33 vs. 4.08%) and Whiteness Index (54.50 vs. 18.51) values than bovine cheese at the beginning of ripening (p<0.05). Dry matter was not significantly affected by milk type or ripening (p>0.05), whereas pH and titratable acidity changed significantly during ripening (p<0.05). Texture profile analysis revealed that camel milk cheese had a softer structure, characterized by lower hardness (689.73 vs. 800.70 g on day 1; 820.94 vs. 1850.31 g on day 90) and lower springiness (0.88 vs. 0.93 on day 1; 0.67 vs. 0.88 on day 90) than bovine cheese (p<0.05). Differences in free fatty acid evolution and volatile compound profiles indicated that lipolysis and aroma development followed different biochemical pathways in the two cheese types during ripening, with organic acids and ester compounds detected only in bovine cheese. Despite these instrumental differences, sensory evaluation revealed comparable appearance, odor and flavor scores between camel and bovine cheeses (p>0.05). Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), principal component analysis (PCA) and heatmap analysis successfully differentiated the cheeses according to milk type and ripening stage. Generally, white brined cheese produced from camel milk exhibited distinctive physicochemical, textural and aromatic characteristics while maintaining satisfactory sensory quality. These findings provide valuable insights into the ripening behavior of camel milk cheese and demonstrate the usefulness of chemometric approaches for differentiating cheeses produced from different milk sources. 

Keywords

Camel cheese, Free fatty acids, Principal component analysis, Ripening, Volatile compounds

Supporting Institution

This research was supported by Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Scientific Research Projects Unit under Project No: SBF-20003

Project Number

SBF-20003

Thanks

The authors would like to thank Aydın Adnan Menderes University for their financial support and ADU-TARBIYOMER for laboratory technical permision.

References

  1. Abdalla, A., Abu-Jdayil, B., Alsereidi, H., Hamed, F., Kamal-Eldin, A., Huppertz, T., & Ayyash, M. (2022). Low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese made from blends of camel and bovine milk: Gross composition, proteolysis, functionality, microstructure, and rheological properties. Journal of Dairy Science, 105, 8734–8749. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2022-22144
  2. Ali, A. H., Bamigbade, G., Subhash, A., Altamimi, S., Aljinaibi, S., Alsada, J., Saleh, R., Hamed, F., Bintsis, T., Kamal Eldin, A., & Ayyash, M. (2026). Camel milk incorporation modifies protein network development, proteolysis, and flavor compound formation in low-fat Feta-type cheese. Journal of Dairy Science. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2026-28545
  3. Ali, A. H., Öztürk, H. İ., Eylem, C. C., Nemutlu, E., Tarique, M., Subhash, A., Liu, S.-Q., Kamal-Eldin, A., & Ayyash, M. (2024). Biological activities, peptidomics and in silico analysis of low-fat Cheddar cheese after in vitro digestion: Impact of blending camel and bovine milk. Food Chemistry, 460, 140760. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.140760
  4. Alia Ait El, O., Zine-Eddine, Y., Chaji, S., Boukrouh, S., Boutoial, K., & Faye, B. (2025). Global camel milk industry: A comprehensive overview of production, consumption trends, market evolution, and value chain efficiency. Small Ruminant Research, 243, 107441. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107441
  5. AOAC (2019). Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC International (21st ed.), Gaithersburg, MD, USA.
  6. AOAC. (1995). Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC International (6th ed.), Gaithersburg, MD, USA.
  7. AOAC. (1999). Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC International (5th ed.), Gaithersburg, MD, USA.
  8. Ayyash, M., Abu-Jdayil, B., Hamed, F., & Shaker, R. (2022). Rheological, textural, microstructural and sensory impact of exopolysaccharide-producing Lactobacillus plantarum isolated from camel milk on low-fat Akawi cheese. LWT – Food Science and Technology, 87, 423-431 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2017.09.023
  9. Baig, D., Sabikhi, L., Khetra, Y., & Shelke, P. A. (2022). Technological challenges in production of camel milk cheese and ways to overcome them: A review. International Dairy Journal, 129, 105344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idairyj.2022.105344
  10. Bekele, B., Hansen, E. B., Eshetu, M., Ipsen, R., & Hailu, Y. (2019). Effect of starter cultures on properties of soft white cheese made from camel (Camelus dromedarius) milk. Journal of Dairy Science, 102, 1108–1115. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2018-15084
APA
Uzun Başaran, H., Yıldız Akgül, F., Öğüt, S., & Karaman, A. D. (2026). Comparative analysis of camel and bovine milk cheeses based on physicochemical properties, fatty acid composition, volatile profile and chemometric evaluations. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences, 10(3), 650-664. https://doi.org/10.31015/jaefs.2026.3.12
AMA
1.Uzun Başaran H, Yıldız Akgül F, Öğüt S, Karaman AD. Comparative analysis of camel and bovine milk cheeses based on physicochemical properties, fatty acid composition, volatile profile and chemometric evaluations. int. j. agric. environ. food sci. 2026;10(3):650-664. doi:10.31015/jaefs.2026.3.12
Chicago
Uzun Başaran, Handenur, Filiz Yıldız Akgül, Serdal Öğüt, and Ayşe Demet Karaman. 2026. “Comparative Analysis of Camel and Bovine Milk Cheeses Based on Physicochemical Properties, Fatty Acid Composition, Volatile Profile and Chemometric Evaluations”. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences 10 (3): 650-64. https://doi.org/10.31015/jaefs.2026.3.12.
EndNote
Uzun Başaran H, Yıldız Akgül F, Öğüt S, Karaman AD (September 1, 2026) Comparative analysis of camel and bovine milk cheeses based on physicochemical properties, fatty acid composition, volatile profile and chemometric evaluations. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences 10 3 650–664.
IEEE
[1]H. Uzun Başaran, F. Yıldız Akgül, S. Öğüt, and A. D. Karaman, “Comparative analysis of camel and bovine milk cheeses based on physicochemical properties, fatty acid composition, volatile profile and chemometric evaluations”, int. j. agric. environ. food sci., vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 650–664, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.31015/jaefs.2026.3.12.
ISNAD
Uzun Başaran, Handenur - Yıldız Akgül, Filiz - Öğüt, Serdal - Karaman, Ayşe Demet. “Comparative Analysis of Camel and Bovine Milk Cheeses Based on Physicochemical Properties, Fatty Acid Composition, Volatile Profile and Chemometric Evaluations”. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences 10/3 (September 1, 2026): 650-664. https://doi.org/10.31015/jaefs.2026.3.12.
JAMA
1.Uzun Başaran H, Yıldız Akgül F, Öğüt S, Karaman AD. Comparative analysis of camel and bovine milk cheeses based on physicochemical properties, fatty acid composition, volatile profile and chemometric evaluations. int. j. agric. environ. food sci. 2026;10:650–664.
MLA
Uzun Başaran, Handenur, et al. “Comparative Analysis of Camel and Bovine Milk Cheeses Based on Physicochemical Properties, Fatty Acid Composition, Volatile Profile and Chemometric Evaluations”. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences, vol. 10, no. 3, Sept. 2026, pp. 650-64, doi:10.31015/jaefs.2026.3.12.
Vancouver
1.Handenur Uzun Başaran, Filiz Yıldız Akgül, Serdal Öğüt, Ayşe Demet Karaman. Comparative analysis of camel and bovine milk cheeses based on physicochemical properties, fatty acid composition, volatile profile and chemometric evaluations. int. j. agric. environ. food sci. 2026 Sep. 1;10(3):650-64. doi:10.31015/jaefs.2026.3.12