Geographical Variation in Pasturelands and Their Impact on the Physicochemical Characterization and Fatty Acid Composition of Cheese in Caraș-Severin County, Romania

Alexandra-Ioana Ibric, Ileana Cocan (), Ersilia Alexa, Călin Jianu, Monica Negrea, Alina Andreea Dragoescu, Raul-Cristian Jurcuț and Tiberiu Iancu
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Alexandra-Ioana Ibric: Faculty of Management and Rural Tourism, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” from Timisoara, Aradului Street No. 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Ileana Cocan: Faculty of Food Engineering, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” from Timisoara, Aradului Street No. 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Ersilia Alexa: Doctoral School Engineering of Plant and Animal Resources, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” from Timisoara, Aradului Street No. 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Călin Jianu: Faculty of Food Engineering, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” from Timisoara, Aradului Street No. 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Monica Negrea: Faculty of Food Engineering, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” from Timisoara, Aradului Street No. 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Alina Andreea Dragoescu: Faculty of Agriculture, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” from Timisoara, Aradului Street No. 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Raul-Cristian Jurcuț: Doctoral School Engineering of Plant and Animal Resources, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” from Timisoara, Aradului Street No. 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Tiberiu Iancu: Faculty of Management and Rural Tourism, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” from Timisoara, Aradului Street No. 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 16, 1-16

Abstract: In Caraș-Severin County, Romania, the integration of sustainable agricultural practices with organic dairy production represents a unique opportunity to promote agro-tourism farms and guesthouses. This study examines the synergy between the chemical composition of pastures from three farms in different alleys and the impact on the chemical composition of dairy products produced on those farms. Thus, the comparative analysis of two types of traditional cow’s cheeses (soft and mature) from three different areas of Caraș-Severin County was pursued, as well as of the feed given to the animals from which the raw material for obtaining the cheeses originated. Initially, the physicochemical profile of the pastures (fresh grass and grass hay) was analyzed in terms of proximate composition (moisture, lipids, proteins, ash and carbohydrates), and the content of bioactive compounds (total polyphenols, antioxidant activity using the DPPH method). The proximate composition of the cheese samples, including moisture, lipids, proteins, ash and carbohydrates was analysed, and the content of fatty acids. A correlation was also made between the content of bioactive compounds in feed samples and fatty acid profile of the cheese samples. Our findings demonstrate that the geographical area and the chemical composition of the pasture have a considerable influence on the physicochemical characterization and fatty acid composition of the cheese. The cheese from the mountain area had a higher fat, protein and polyunsaturated fatty acid content compared to the samples from the hill and plain areas.

Keywords: bioactive compounds; pasture; proximate composition; fatty acids; organic dairy products; sustainable farming practices (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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