1. ABSTRACT
Novel analytical technologies of Quality in the Sheep & Goat Dairy Sector
By George Psathas and Ouranios Tzamaloukas
France, Greece, Italy, and Spain the major sheep and goat milk producers in Europe, got the initiative through an
interimof 30 years(1985 – 2015), toorganize - throughIDF - 7 symposiums aimingatthe upgrade of the DairySector.
One majorinterestwasthe milkquality.Stepwise,the effortsfollowedcow milkstructural developmentin organizing
the testing laboratory, the definition of quality in composition (fat, protein, lactose, total solids), in Hygienic (Total
Bacteria Count, Somatic Cell Count, antibiotics residues and Aflatoxin M1 contamination) , adulteration with water
anddetection of milkspecies. EU,byDecision2002/657/EC, definedthe rulesforthe Directive 96/23/EC,enumerated
the testing methods, the demands in sampling procedures, the min. limits of performance, the quality control (ISO
17025) and the interpretation of results. The equivalency of results from different laboratories, through ISO 17025,
demanded the application of ISO analytical standards. In a period of 5 years these standardshave been reformed in
orderto coverthe needsof sheepandgoatmilkanalysis.Novel developmentinanalytical instrumental methods, like
FTIR interferometerworkingwithmid-Infrared region of the spectrum from 3 - 10 µm corresponding to 1000 – 5000
cm -1, givesopportunitiesof collectingdata bymakingmeasurementsfornew parametersincomplex dairyproducts,
like Ureainmilk, FFA profile,casein,pH,etc. FlowingCytometryforIndividual BacteriaCountandSomaticCellsCount
isopeningthe roadforapplicationsontestingforraw milk inhygieniccontrol of the sheepandgoatdairysector. New
developedscreeningmethodsare appliedtogive rapidresultsforantibioticsoraflatoxin M1residues. Milkqualityin
the Central Testing Laboratory of today, is upgraded and promoted throughrapid, trustful and traceable systems of
LIMS inpaymentsandherdmanagement.Milkspeciesmixturescantodaybe analysedinmilkanddairyproductswith
screening and reference methods. PDO products needtoday testιng methods for authenticityof animals’ breed and
geographical region of production.