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The objective of the present work was to compare the values of the percentages of the different fractions in the milk casein of Criollo and Saanen goats. For this purpose, 6 adult goats of each breed from a commercial goat herd, located in the semi-arid region of central western Argentina, were evaluated. The goats were fed on alfalfa and corn grain, and service was performed by natural mating. Samples were collected by hand milking, taking 100 c.c./animal at 15, 30 and 45 days post-partum. To determine the percentage of alpha, beta and kappa casein, the UREA-PAGE vertical gel electrophoresis method was used and the bands were read applying the semi-quantification method with ImageJ software. The results found showed that in both breeds the values of alpha casein were increasing, while those of beta and kappa casein decreased throughout the sampling. Likewise, it was found that alpha casein was higher in Saanen goat milk, while the percentages of beta and kappa casein were higher in Criollo goat milk, finding a significant statistical difference for alpha and beta casein at the three times evaluated and in the case of kappa casein only in the 45-day sampling. It was concluded that Criollo goat milk has a lower percentage of alpha casein than Saanen goat milk, which would make it less allergenic and has a higher percentage of beta and kappa casein, a situation that would allow a quick coagulation for cheese production and a higher stability and firmness in yogurts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work was to determine the values of zoometric variables that define the Creole Goat of South Mendoza (Mendoza province, Argentina). Samples were taken at commercial goat farms located in South and North regions and in seven locations of San Rafael and Malargue departments of Mendoza. Eight hundred and thirty five Creole goats were sampled, with ages from two teeth up to tooth cutter, using the method proposed by FAO (2000). The variables studied were Head width (HW), Head length (HL), Height to the end of Neck (HN), Thoracic perimeter (TP), Body length (BL), Rump width (RW); Height to the Rump (HR) and Shank Perimeter (SP). The variables were analyzed using multivariate techniques principal components, discriminants, canonical populations) and clusters based on Euclídeus distances and their graphic representation as dendrograms. The results showed that all variables followed a normal distribution. In turn, uniformity in the variables was found, since Coefficient of Variation was lower than 9% in all cases. The variables that best describe the model were HN, TP, RW, SP and HN, which represent 50% of the total data variability. The dendogram showed two mixed groups where variables of locations of North and South regions were found, finding the smallest eucledian distance among locations of the South region. The Figure of the Analysis of Principal Components showed that dispersion of the variables behaves in an homogeneous way, without generating groups or subpopulations. Variable homogeneity found in this work would allow to assume that the Creole Goats of the South Mendoza would belong to a common genetic stem that would characterize them as members of a defined racial group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]