QUALITY OF BUFFALO MILK SUPPLEMENTED WITH SELENIUM

Resumo

This study aimed at evaluating the effects of a selenium enriched diet on the composition and somatic cell count of buffalo milk, along with verifying selenium residue in milk and in Minas fresh cheese. Data from 2264 Murrah buffalo milk samples belonging to Tapuio Ltda., located in the agreste region of Rio Grande do Norte were collected in the period from 2010 to 2014 for analysis. To verify the amount of selenium residue in buffalo milk and in Minas fresh cheese, 100 Murrah buffaloes were used and divided into 5 distinct treatment lots, according to milk production (0.08 ppm/Se/kg of concentrate). Three hundred mL of milk from each lot were collected from the tanks, as well as 300g of Minas fresh cheese, from August to November 2014, with collection of the treated lots held only in the month of November. Selenium supplementation reduces somatic cell count in buffalo milk. Selenium residue was not detected in buffalo milk or cheese. Studies with higher levels that 4.8 ppm of selenium in the diets of dairy buffaloes are recommended.