FFA analysis
FFA content of cheeses increased from day 1 to day 60, indicating
the significant effect of ripening time on cheese lipolysis
(Table 2). Total levels of FFA (TFFA) at the end of ripening were
lower and higher than those reported by Buffa, Guamis, Pavia, and
Trujillo (2001) in similar goats' milk cheeses, respectively.
No differences in TFFA were found between cheeses at 1 or 15
days of ripening, however, at 30 and 60 days of ripening the highest
amounts of TFFA were observed in PH-cheeses, showing more than
twice the levels found in PA- and UH-cheeses. Palmitic acid (C16)
was the main FFA in all cheeses representing ~30% of TFFA.
Observing individual short-chain free fatty acids (SCFFA), UHcheeses
exhibited the highest level of C4 at first day of ripening;
however no differences were found throughout the ripening time
(Table 2).
No statistical differences of medium-chain free fatty acids
(MCFFA) were found between cheeses at 1 or 15 days of ripening